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Korean Church helps Muslim folks |
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Written by Samira Ali Gutoc
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Saturday, 22 November 2003 |
Far-flung Sulu rarely receives visitors, foreigners especially. Decades of combat-focused reportage have given the island a bad image, enough to make outsiders fear of setting foot in the province.
But the negative peace and order image did not deter South Korea's Presbyterian Church to heed a call for help. In a land where clinics have few medicines and some absentee personnel amidst identified zones of conflict, Sulu is one of the poorest recipients of basic services such as health and infrastructure.
Sulu is also part of a region that hosts one of the highest infant mortality rates in the country. Exposure to sporadic bombings and armed exchange between rebels and military leave residents with remnants of poisoned air. According to a local government official, access to vaccinations are rare making children the biggest victims of skin diseases called scabies. Elders have bad blood pressure.
But outside help had to be solicited. Sulu governor Yusop Jikiri's gameplan to attract confidence included lessening the proliferation of guns. "He wanted to remove the mentality that you should have guns," said a close relative. And he wanted to set an example. He had less armed escorts and carried no gun himself. Among Moro politicians, it is usual to have a contingent of armed guards.
This set the pace for the provincial government engaging foreign non-government workers such as the South Korean Church in the task of promoting health in the grassroot on a town-town base.
In coordination with the Sulu government and volunteer Dagupan City Councilor Vladimir Mata, Korean doctors and their Zamboanga counterparts braved the seas to conduct free medical and dental missions in more than ten municipalities last October 14-24. "Our aim was to bring medical services to the people, especially those who cannot afford to go to a hospital," said one mission sponsor, councilor Edil Baddiri, head of the province's Philippine Councilor's League. The mission was also significant because it came weeks before the start of the holy month of Ramadhan, giving residents time to "condition their bodies" in preparation for the difficult task of fasting.
Beneficiaries numbered at 7000 came as families, lining up in the schools, sites of the outreach in every town visited. Their age ranged from a year old to 60 years. Skin diseases among the children were addressed by ointments. While blood pressure due to poor blood circulation among elders was addressed by a healing method called acupuncture.
One of the mission's biggest patron and "patient" was the governor himself. Yusop Jikiri, joined hundreds of enthusiasts who underwent the acupuncture, the most popular service offered by the medical group.
Called ventusa, the Chinese-inspired healing method is aimed at removing bad blood in the body. The process requires a patient to lie prone and undergo insertion of needles connected to bottles mostly in the back side. The needles would then suck out blood, the ones that "prevent circulation" which would then flow in the bottles.
The testimonies from elder residents were mostly positive. They said their numbness, headaches or rheumatism were removed. Eyesight was even improved.
The medical team of 8 foreign and 6 local doctors were then treated to a tour of the Sulu Seas. Riding native fastcrafts, they held gasps of enthusiasm as they saw schools of tuna seen vividly in the blue waters. They also witnessed a rare scene of a fleet of dolphins in one line jumping up and down as they swam towards the other direction.
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