After receiving acupuncture treatment, Sanjeewa (center) felt a significant reduction in his rheumatic pain. (Photo by Mai Ah Ngo)
At 4 p.m., the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) room at the free clinic was filled with applause and cheers as Sanjeewa Sisira Kumara, a local resident, walked out of the treatment room with a straight posture as encouraged by the TCM practitioner. With a newfound ease in his gait, he excitedly waved his left arm.
“For a whole year, I couldn’t raise my hands high, but today, for the first time, I feel like my body is truly getting better,” Sanjeewa said. He had been suffering from rheumatism for the past year, and despite taking medicine, his symptoms were only slightly relieved. The physical pain, coupled with the inability to work and care for his family, had caused him considerable stress.
After a six-year absence, Tzu Chi Merit (Singapore) mobilised medical professionals and volunteers from Singapore and Sri Lanka to host a large-scale free clinic from 23 August to 25 August 2024, in the Kalutara District of Sri Lanka. The two-and-a-half-day free clinic, which offered services across four disciplines—Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dentistry, Ophthalmology, and Internal Medicine—provided medical care to 4,600 people, including Sanjeewa, who came seeking relief.
Local residents experienced the healing power of TCM
When Sanjeewa first walked into the TCM waiting area, his face was filled with sadness. Due to the pain, he entered the treatment room with a hunch, unwilling to sit down, and declined the cookies and snacks offered by the volunteers. Noticing his weakness and discomfort, the volunteer in charge of reception arranged for him to be seen first.
During the treatment, Sanjeewa struggled to sit and could only lift his left hand to about 45 degrees. However, after an acupuncture treatment by TCM practitioner Loo Tuck Kheong, he managed to raise his hands much higher. Loo Tuck Kheong then asked him to try walking, and Sanjeewa, with a straight back and a smile, did so effortlessly. The stark contrast between his condition before and after the treatment moved several volunteers, who applauded joyfully.
Sanjeewa, who lives in a nearby village, had heard the broadcast announcement about the free clinic and came with the hope of trying the treatment. He did not expect such significant recovery in his body after just one short session, and he smiled as he said, "For a whole year, I couldn't lift my hands high, but today, after the acupuncture, I felt my body improving gradually."
Seeing the relief of the patient's pain, Loo Tuck Kheong was also very pleased and shared a few sets of rehabilitation exercises for him to practice daily at home, which could help in improving his condition.
Many Kalutara residents are receiving TCM treatment for the first time. (Photo by Mai Ah Ngo)
The free clinic was held at the Katugahahena Divisional Hospital, located in a mountainous area about 46 kilometres from Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo. In this region, most residents rely on rubber tapping, tea picking, and farming for their livelihoods. As the free clinic team travelled to the hospital, they were greeted by the beautiful scenery of rubber plantations, paddy fields, and palm oil plantations.
Local residents were largely unfamiliar with TCM, and many were trying it for the first time. Some were introduced to the clinic by hospital staff or Tzu Chi volunteers, others were drawn by testimonials from friends and relatives, and some were referred by doctors of other faculties.
Over the course of two-and-a-half days, many residents found relief from chronic pain and discomfort after being treated. One man with a sprained foot was even able to walk without crutches after treatment. For every small reconciliation between the patient and their body, there were applause and cheers from the volunteers, as well as smiles of satisfaction from the TCM practitioners.
Although the crowd was large, everyone waited quietly and cooperated with the volunteers and the hospital to maintain order, so the scene was orderly. (Photo by Gan Ming De)
Banners promoting the free clinic are hung on the main road to the hospital. (Photo by Gan Ming De)
Treating patients like family, dentists carefully considered tooth extractions to preserve patients’ ability to chew
The Katugahahena Divisional Hospital, which serves the local residents, has only four doctors and lacks specialised services such as ophthalmology and dentistry. To address these gaps, the ophthalmology team provided optometry services, eyeglasses dispensing, and cataract screening, while the dental team offered scaling, tooth fillings, tooth extractions, and root canal treatments.
A Sri Lankan optometrist conducting a vision test for a local resident. (Photo by Hiruni Hansika)
"Wedanawai da?" meaning "Where does it hurt?" in Sinhala became key phrases for Dr Lee Zia Hern, a dentist who proactively learned simple Sinhala to communicate more directly with the residents. He also advised some patients to avoid consuming spicy food and chewing betel to improve their oral condition.
When Dr Lee administered anaesthesia and performed a tooth extraction for J.A.D. Kalyanawathi, a local resident, she struggled uncontrollably. At 70 years old, this was the first time Kalyanawathi had ever had a tooth extracted, leaving her nervous and scared. Malika, a Sri Lankan volunteer, held Kalyanawathi’s hands tightly, gently calming her fears and preventing her from accidentally interfering with the procedure, which could be dangerous.
Kalyanawathi’s mouth revealed blackened, small teeth, and she frequently suffered from toothaches. Drinking water that was too hot or too cold caused discomfort, and she could only eat food that was finely chopped. Her daughter, W. Chamari Tharaka, shared that her mother had always been resistant to taking medication, fearful of injections, and afraid of dentists, which prevented her from seeking medical attention.
Dr Lee (right) extracting a tooth of resident Kalyanawathi (centre) with the assistance of local volunteer Malika (left). (Photo by Hiruni Hansika)
"The process was only a little painful. At first, I was scared, but the doctor was very nice, and then I didn’t feel that fearful anymore," Kalyanawathi remarked after her tooth extraction. She marvelled at how gentle the Tzu Chi dentist was, which gave her the confidence to seek treatment. Though she remains fearful of visiting the public hospital for dental care, she expressed her hope, saying, "I look forward to you all coming back!"
Dr Lee noted that Kalyanawathi had several teeth that required treatment or extraction. However, due to time constraint, he could only extract the tooth causing her the most distress. He also taught her ways to care for her remaining teeth.
Dental Team Leader Dr Tan Tien Wang (middle) positioned at the initial stage of screening and triaging dental patients to arrange for dental services according to their needs. (Photo by Quah Chin Hin)
“I can finally bite an apple!” exclaimed Anusha Kumari, expressing her deep gratitude after undergoing a root canal treatment, commonly known as a “nerve extraction”.
Six months ago, a car accident involving a three-wheeled tuk-tuk injured Anusha's three front teeth. The public hospital referred her to a private facility for treatment, which would have cost LKR 40,000 (about SGD 620) per tooth or LKR 120,000 (about SGD 1,860) for all three, and that is an enormous financial burden for her.
Having delayed treatment, Anusha’s teeth had become discoloured and infected, causing pain that made daily activities such as speaking unbearable. Today, she is relieved and able to eat normally. Feeling touched, Anusha said, “I’m grateful to the doctor and the team for providing the treatment I needed for free!”
“She’s so young; I couldn’t bear to see her lose three teeth. I will do my best to preserve them,” said Dentist Dr Eugene Tang. The team worked quickly to condense what would have been two sessions into one hour to treat all three teeth within the limited time available.
During this free clinic, Dr Eugene Tang performed root canal treatments on five teeth for three patients. It was a time-consuming and laborious effort, undertaken to help these young patients retain their precious teeth.
Dr Eugene Tang (left) and dental assistants Jennifer Ee and Wong Shiau Wan working well together to complete a complex root canal treatment for Anusha. (Photo by Hiruni Hansika)
The volunteer team provides logistical support for the dental team, carefully cleaning each piece of dental equipment. (Photo by Boey Cherk How)
The free clinic has brought hearts closer together
The queue for the three-day free clinic, which ran from Friday to Sunday, grew longer each day. By the second day, the line stretched all the way to the pharmacy across from the waiting tent. On the final day, the queue nearly doubled in size, with three-wheeled tuk-tuks and motorcycles lining up from the street entrance. Although the clinic officially started at 8.30 a.m., many residents arrived as early as 3 or 4 a.m. to secure their spot.
Faced with a large number of patients but limited volunteer capacity, the team worked with the hospital to make adjustments. They reduced the number of departments each resident should visit from two to one, allowing them to serve as many people as possible.
The entire hospital is packed with residents coming to seek treatment. (Photo by Boey Cherk How)
Several general practitioners are listening attentively to every detail, hoping to provide ease of mind to their patients. (Photo by Sean Tan)
In Sri Lanka, medical services are generally free, but medications are usually not provided without charge. Due to the ongoing financial crisis in Sri Lanka, the cost of medicines has doubled in recent years, placing a significant burden on residents of Kalutara, who typically have low incomes.
71-year-old Karunawathi was relieved to receive free poultice cloths and tablets after her visit. "I feel less painful, and I'm thankful to have medicine to bring home," she said. She mentioned that it was burdensome for her to buy her own medications after a regular doctor’s visit, and some of the medicines were not easy to obtain.
Karunawathi arrived early at 7 a.m. on the second day of the clinic. She explained that she had to catch up on work after her medical consultation and was concerned about bus schedules. She took the third bus of the day, spending about an hour traveling to the clinic. By the time she finished her consultation, three to four hours had passed.
A large number of patients are queuing at the pharmacy to collect their medications after seeing the GP. (Photo by Boey Cherk How)
During the free clinic that lasted for two-and-a-half days, every resident’s health was treated with the utmost care and importance. The doctors and volunteers raced against the clock to provide the best possible care for every patient. In total, the clinic saw approximately 4,600 visits. Local youth volunteers played a crucial role in the medical mission, handling tasks such as interpreting, filling out forms, guiding patients, and photography. They also took the opportunity to promote the values of beauty and kindness to the locals. United in purpose, everyone sincerely prayed for a world free of disease and disaster.
Local youth volunteers promoted the spirit of "small donations can achieve great deeds," and residents responded by joyfully contributing to the bamboo bank. (Photo by Mai Ah Ngo)
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