August 16, 2024
Tzu Chi dental mission serves IP patients
By Joy Rojas
Good oral health involves visiting your dentist at least once every six months. Unfortunately, not everyone has access to a board-certified dentist or dental clinic in their community, much less the resources to pay for treatment.
As such, the residents of Sitio Target in Barangay Sapang Bato avail of free healthcare whenever and wherever they can get it. Located in the outskirts of Angeles City in the province of Pampanga, the community is made up largely of Aeta, a group of indigenous people (IP) who struggle with poverty, discrimination, and limited job opportunities.
At the Tzu Chi Foundation’s dental mission on August 12 in Angeles, Pampanga, 21 IP made the two-hour trip from Sitio Target to the mission in Mitchell Avenue, Balibago, Angeles, for free consults, tooth fillings, and extractions. The group was part of the 160 patients who took advantage of the free checkups, treatments, and medicines provided by 12 Tzu Chi volunteer doctors.
“It’s a big help to the IP community,” says Marilyn K. Bulatao, tribal affairs assistant II of the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) Pampanga. “A tooth extraction is expensive. Then hospitals are far, and some ask you to come back because your blood pressure hasn’t stabilized. Here, they can get dental services in one day at no cost.”
Tzu Chi has come to the aid of the Aetas before. In 2017, about 2,000 Aetas benefited from a rice relief event organized in Angeles. In 2021, the IPs were included in a large-scale distribution of rice and essential goods to tide them over during the pandemic. “When I told them Tzu Chi was holding a dental mission, they didn’t have to be told twice,” says Bulatao.
Donna P. Carpio’s first encounter with Tzu Chi was a pleasant one. Arriving at the dental mission with her son Rodnie, she was warmly welcomed and assisted by volunteers and given food after her treatment. “I’m honored to know Tzu Chi Foundation,” says Carpio who had a tooth extracted. “They came to the Philippines to help people, including indigenous people like me.”
Volunteer dentists like Dr. Kate Dominique Carlos feel just as fulfilled for the opportunity to extend her expertise to the less fortunate. Since passing the board, she makes time to treat poor communities through dental missions she organizes on her own or with fellow dentists.
“It warms the heart, especially since I was able to help indigenous people,” says Dr. Carlos of her first time to volunteer with Tzu Chi. “Tzu Chi’s reach is amazing. They’re very hands-on and they help so many people.”
Dental missions are also the perfect venue to educate beneficiaries on proper oral care. To treat a painful tooth, “all Filipinos know is extraction. They don’t know about preventive measures,” says Dr. Carlos. “That’s what volunteer dentists and the Tzu Chi Foundation want to do: We want to share our knowledge on how to do preventive dental health with Filipinos.”
The Tzu Chi dental mission on August 12 in Angeles, Pampanga, began with a prayer led by Tzu Chi volunteers and scholars.
Tzu Chi scholars assist patients in the registration area of the dental mission.
Twenty-one Aetas endured a two-hour trip from their community in Sitio Target, Barangay Sapang Bato, to Tzu Chi's dental mission in Mitchell Avenue, Balibago, Angeles, to avail of free dental treatments.
Twenty-one Aetas endured a two-hour trip from their community in Sitio Target, Barangay Sapang Bato, to Tzu Chi's dental mission in Mitchell Avenue, Balibago, Angeles, to avail of free dental treatments.
Twenty-one Aetas endured a two-hour trip from their community in Sitio Target, Barangay Sapang Bato, to Tzu Chi's dental mission in Mitchell Avenue, Balibago, Angeles, to avail of free dental treatments.
Twenty-one Aetas endured a two-hour trip from their community in Sitio Target, Barangay Sapang Bato, to Tzu Chi's dental mission in Mitchell Avenue, Balibago, Angeles, to avail of free dental treatments.
Twenty-one Aetas endured a two-hour trip from their community in Sitio Target, Barangay Sapang Bato, to Tzu Chi's dental mission in Mitchell Avenue, Balibago, Angeles, to avail of free dental treatments.
A patient’s vital signs are monitored by a volunteer before treatment.
Medical and dental services are scarce in the Aeta community, so these indigenous people take advantage of free treatments in medical and dental missions whenever they can.
Dr. Cheung Lai Chun demonstrates to beneficiaries the proper way to brush teeth.
Tzu Chi dental mission’s volunteer dentists took care of 123 extractions, 27 fillings, and 10 checkups.
“I’m honored to know Tzu Chi Foundation,” says IP community member Donna Carpio with her son Rodnie. “They came to the Philippines to help people, including indigenous people like me.”
Rodnie Carpio pinches his ears as a volunteer dentist administers anesthesia before his extraction.
Donna Carpio tilts her head back as a volunteer dentist begins a tooth extraction.
Medical and dental services are scarce in the Aeta community, so these indigenous people take advantage of free treatments in medical and dental missions whenever they can.
After their extractions, Donna Carpio and her son Rodnie are guided by volunteers to the medical mission’s pharmacy.
Among the volunteers of the dental mission were Tzu Chi Youth from Taiwan.
Tzu Chi Philippines CEO Henry Yuñez addresses volunteers at the dental mission.
“It warms the heart, especially since I was able to help indigenous people,” says Dr. Kate Dominique Carlos of her first time to volunteer with Tzu Chi. “Tzu Chi’s reach is amazing. They’re very hands-on and they help so many people.”