| PROJECT |
DESCRIPTION |
| 1. Mobile physical exam and free clinic for
remote areas and is lacking medical services |
TIMA in Taiwan dispatches a mobile free clinic
to remote areas at least twice a month. Many doctors take turns participating in this
regular outreach program. |
| 2. Mobile physical exam team and free clinic
for the homeless |
Every year, TIMA holds three physical exam
sessions and free health fairs for the homeless in Taipei, Capital city of Taiwan. The
timings coincide with three major holidays: New Year's Eve Dinner, Dragon Boat Festival,
and Moon Festival. In addition to monitoring the health of homeless people, the project
aims to control infectious diseases for public health. Through this project, TIMA has
compiled complete health data of the city's aboriginal population. |
| 3. Physical exam and free clinic team for the
city's aboriginal population |
The aboriginies, who usually live in the
mountain, began to move into cities about 20 years ago to pursue a better life. Due to
high living cost they con only afford to live in places where there is neither clean
running water nor electricity. Therefore, TIMA in Taiwan provides them with the following
services:
- Physical exams and free medical services.
- Tutorial services for the aboriginal children by Tzu-Chi College Youth Corp.
- Supply of solar energy generators for the children's use to read.
|
| 4. Physical exams and home medical care for the
elderly |
TIMA often extends medical care to the homes of
the elderly during holiday seasons. For example, on May 9, 1998, a total of 283 seniors
participated in a health fair held at the senior center in Keelung. |
| 5. Home Care |
TIMA also provides home medical care to needy
patients referred by social workers of the Foundation. |
| 6. Investigation of factors affecting public
health as well as study of their influence on local residents |
TIMA has discovered some serious health problems among the populations during outreach
activities. Studies concerning these problems will be published in the TIMA in Taiwan
journal.
- The aboriginal TB rate is 27 times higher than that of city residents.
- The aborignal hepatitis rate is 30 times higher than that of the city residents.
- More than 60% of the aborginal adults suffer from gout.
- In the outreach program to the remote island of Penhoo County, it was found that 41% of
the population (including children and adults) suffer from Nephralgia or Nephritis. Upon
this finding, TIMA collected drinking water samples from public places as well as the
patients house for further analysis. Later the report of the Health Department revealed
that all the water contained Natrium 60 times higher than normal drinking water.
Specifically, the Natrium level in normal drinking water is more than 500mg/l. Meanwhile,
it was found that the children on the island drank little water because the water was too
salty. TIMA called to the attention of the Running
Water Company of Taiwan Immediately and plans to hold another health fair for the
residents (especially children) accordingly.
|
| 7. Community Health Education |
Besides taking care of the health of the indigent, TIMA is also devoted to improving
community health as a whole. In conjunction with Tzu-Chi Foundation community events. TIMA often sends physicians toeducate people about a variety
of health issues. |
| 8. Providing free medical care and infectious
disease control to disaster areas identified by Tzu-Chi international disaster relief
team. |
Project for 1999 |
| 9. Participating in medical station setup
project for third world countries |
Future project |
