The medical mission over the weekend in the coastal village of Sangali coincided with last day of the holy month of Ramadan and on the eve of the celebration of Eid ul-Fitr.
Dubbed as “Ramadan Medical Mission,” the YMPN-WM brought together 10 medical doctors and dozens of nurses and volunteers.
Amir Mawallil, the group’s chairperson, said the medical mission was a combined effort of various stakeholders and organizations. “This is our second time to conduct a medical mission during the fasting month and we hope to do this every year,” he said.
Mawallil said that last year’s medical outreach was held in Kampung Islam, also in Zamboanga City, and it served about 700 mostly poor residents.
“As Muslim professionals, this is our way of giving back to the community and it feels so special since we are doing this during the holy month, to be exact at the last day of Ramadan,” said Dr. Abdul Javar Esturco, the group’s project manager.
Dr. Titina Loong, YMPN-WM vice-chairperson, said the mission served patients with different health problems ranging from hypertension, heart problems, cough, fever, and skin diseases. Hundreds of children with different medical problems were also diagnosed.
Residents, who benefited from the medical outreach, praised the YMPN-WM for the humanitarian project.
“We are very happy and thankful that there is an outreach like this,” said Babuh Aldiya, 39, whose five-year old daughter suffered from recurring cough.
“This is a big help for us here in Sangali given the high cost of medical consultations and medicines we have now,” she said.
Medzar Hajiri, head of Scintilla Juris, a fraternity organization in the College of Law of the Western Mindanao State University, and a partner organization of YMPN, said the medical mission was able to convey the real message of Ramadan. “Aside from fasting and constant praying, Ramadan also encourages us to practice charity,” he said. (Nuhman Aljan)
20