Hope and Healing: 1,700 Sibugaynons get free treatment on first day of Tzu Chi medical mission
IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay – Under the shade of the Provincial Capitol grounds, long lines of patients – some arriving before sunrise – waited patiently on Thursday, August 14, for a chance at treatment many had long put off because of cost. By day’s end, at least 1,700 Sibugaynons had been served in the first leg of the Tzu Chi Foundation’s 283rd medical mission, a three-day humanitarian effort aimed at bringing free healthcare to those who need it most.
The team is expecting another 4,000 patients until Saturday, said Provincial Administrator Atty. Jay Millena in a Facebook post, noting the overwhelming response from residents across the province.
Medical Mission: A Lifeline
The mission is a collaboration between the provincial government led by Governor Ann K. Hofer and Vice Governor RicRic Olegario, Tzu Chi Philippines through the initiative of Mr. Dexter Tsang, and the offices of Representatives Marlo Bancoro and Marly Hofer-Hasim.
For those needing more than a prescription, specialized surgical services – including Jaipur prosthetics, hernia repair, hydrocoele and varicocoele surgeries, and goiter excision (non-toxic, non-cancerous cases) – are being performed at the Dr. George T. Hofer Medical Center in Barangay Tenan, Ipil.
Meanwhile, the Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Capitol Gymnasium in Ipil Heights has been transformed into a hub for general medical consultations, pediatric care, dental treatment, eye check-ups, and ENT (ear, nose, and throat) services.
For many, the mission is more than a medical appointment – it’s a lifeline.
“If not for this, I wouldn’t know how to afford my operation,” said one elderly patient who had waited months for a surgical slot.
Tzu Chi, a Buddhist humanitarian group known for its disaster relief and medical outreach, has brought its brand of compassion to hundreds of communities in the Philippines.
This week, in Zamboanga Sibugay, that compassion is measured in the sighs of relief from patients leaving with medicine in hand, and in the grateful smiles of those given a new chance at health.
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