Health Outreach Programme

Health Outreach Programme: 9th May 2009

As part of the Vesak festival for this year,Mitta for Life Cancer Counselling Centre sent a team of doctors, nurses, health professionals and volunteers to Ipoh to set up a series of activities as part of its Health Outreach Programme.

The activities included a Health Exhibition, free health check (blood pressure, body fats, blood glucose), free consultation with doctors on general health issues, free dental services and free breasts examination.

The busload of medical personnel and volunteers started off from Penang at 5.30am on the morning of Vesak Day, arriving at Ipoh Dhammadipa buddhist society at 7.30am. After a hurried breakfast, Joy Clinic was transformed into an ad hoc clinic - complete with consultation rooms, examination rooms and even a dental clinic!

There was not a moment of rest from the time the "clinic" opened for Free Health Check to the time it closed at 12.30pm. There could easily be more than 100 multi-racial participants from all walks of life, and from varied age groups. The ladies who attended the free health check were also encouraged to go for the free breasts examination where they were also taught the techniques of Self-Breasts Examination.

The Mitta team was also very much supported by volunteers and medical personnel from Ipoh too.

The conclusion? A very soul satisfying day. We arrived in Ipoh, strangers in the midst of unfamiliar grounds. But by the time we left, we had made many friends amongst the Ipoh volunteers and participants that remineded me of the old proverb, "Strangers are just friends waiting to happen." But then again, when you are amongst the Mitta group, there can never be stangers....only Mitta for Life ! .....Amy

The thought of doing a health screening in Ipoh have kept me awake the whole night. I was worried that I would over slept the wake up time at 4.30 a.m. Never the less, I was excited as this was an opportunity to do something worth while on Wesak day. Since a kid, I have always been inspired by 2 quotations by Lord Buddha. They were " those who served the sick will serve Me" and " strive on with diligence" in our practice. Being able to serve with Dr. Jeyashree and other volunteers were indeed an honor and a joy for me that day.I arrived at the Ipoh centre at about 8.00 a.m.having slept throughout the journey. I was overwhelmed with the natural beauty surrounding the centre and the monks quatter. The limestone hills was indeed a sight to behold. After admiring the beautiful scenery and enjoying a fantastic breakfast by Dr. Jeyashree, we started our work. We put out and arranged the posters , sign boards and required equipments. There were counters comprising of the registration counter, BMI and body fat assessment, blood pressure check, blood sugar test, dentist check, breast examination and doctor's clinic. We saw about 88 people during the 1/2 day screening which also include dental check for ----- people and breast examination for ---- people. As for me, I was put in charge of the BMI and body fat assessment. I had two wonderful and pleasant volunteers. The people we screened were curious about their weight, body fat, body age and their target weight. We have simple explaination on the results as well as pamplets to give away. I was amazed at some of the older participants who had managed to underaged their body age as compared to their actual age.This shows that Ipoh people are fit and had put good effort to ensure good health.We left Ipoh after having a memorable photo shooting and icecream. I have indeed enjoyed this trip and I would like to thank Dr. Jeyashreefor giving me this opportunity on a very special day. ....Supanee S

"In the early morning of Wesak Day, 8th May 2009, together with other volunteers, we left MBT at 5.30 am in a van for Dhammadipa Centre in Ipoh. I was glad to be back, this being my second visit, and to witness the centre taking on a carnival-like look with the tents set up for the food and jumble sales stalls on the open field below the towering cliffs. Adjacent to the stalls and sprawling on the ground was a huge, cardboard cut out of a reclining Buddha. It was really so beautiful and breath-taking to see the smiling countenance of the Buddha, radiating His love to all mankind. After a quick breakfast, Ms Lee Ee Lin, a fellow pharmacist, and I proceeded to set up our table for blood glucose testing. We had a good crowd (close to 80 patients), largely Indians and some Chinese, that came for the screening tests. Several of those tested were diabetics and despite medication, had very high fasting blood sugar. Ee Lin and I advised them accordingly on nutrition, healthy lifestyle and importance of medication compliance and referred them to see the doctor. The time seemed to fly by so fast and soon the last patient was cleared. We had our lunch around 1 pm and then packed to go home. The ride back was smooth with most of us nodding off for the most part of the journey. It was great to be a part of the medical screening team at Dhammadipa and we look forward to be of service again."

…Lee Chui Ai (Pharmacist)