Due to limited resources, volunteers cleverly converted hospital beds into dental chairs to create a fully equipped medical environment. (Photo by Phang Wei Wan)
"The original hospital beds have now been transformed into dental treatment chairs, fully equipped with all the necessary tools for performing procedures such as scaling, tooth filling, root canal treatment, and wisdom tooth extractions."
Dr Lee Chee Seng, a dentist from Khoo Teck Puat Hospital in Singapore, was amazed at the dedication of the team behind the scenes when he saw the simple ward transformed into a fully equipped dental clinic in just two days.
This is the Bingiriya Divisional Hospital in Sri Lanka. In just 48 hours, a group of Singaporean volunteers raced against time to complete a remarkable transformation.
They converted the parking lot of the former doctors' dormitory into a kitchen equipped with water, electricity, and gas. The outdoor lawn was designated as a dishwashing area with running water. The second floor of the unfinished building became a temporary ophthalmology clinic, while the former men's ward was transformed into a fully equipped dental clinic. Within a short period of time, the hospital was transformed into a facility encompassing four major departments: Western medicine, dentistry, ophthalmology, and traditional Chinese medicine, all fully prepared for the free clinic from 15 to 17 August 2025.
In addition to the members of the Singapore Medical Association, medical staff from Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH) and the National University Health System (NUHS) of Singapore, a total of 17 people, were also invited to provide free medical services abroad for the first time.
Dentist Dr Lee Chee Seng (first from the right) performing oral examinations and treatments on patients with the help of his colleagues and volunteers. (Photo by Phang Wei Wan)
Dr Lee Chee Seng, a dentist, shared that this trip was not only a rewarding one, but also a valuable learning experience in planning a free clinic. Another dentist, Dr Rei Michelle Teresa Ang, expressed that the scale and planning of this event exceeded her expectations. She was grateful for the complete equipment, which enabled everyone to complete the treatments even under challenging conditions.
Dr Rei Michelle Teresa Ang felt that the biggest challenge was language barrier and she was grateful for the assistance provided by the interpreters. Although there were some communication hiccups between the doctors and patients, she and her colleagues still managed to make the patients feel that they were being well taken care of through body language. "The most touching moment was seeing the gratitude in their eyes after their pain was relieved." She described the experience as truly meaningful, adding that she was able to learn better extraction techniques from more experienced dentists and made new friends. She hopes to invite more colleagues to join her in future medical missions.
Providing medical care and doing good knows no boundaries of race
“I hope to help those in need, especially those in rural areas, and share this personal experience with my colleagues,” said Nurul Hidayah Binte Sarifi, a Patient Service Associate from KTPH, who served as the administrative assistant for this free clinic.
"There's a great spirit of teamwork here, with everyone working together regardless of race or religion. The entire process was very well-planned. Even though the volunteers came from different countries, yet communication between each other went very smoothly."
Nurul plans to bring back what she learned and share with the Patient Services Department to inspire the team to further reflect on how they can give back to the society, "whether it's improving the department's services or deepening our collaboration with Tzu Chi."
NUHS team leader Dr Jonathan Chew (fourth from right, back row) and his team took a group photo at their first Tzu Chi free clinic. (Photo by Lee Foo Tien)
Besides, this was the first time the National University Health System (NUHS) participated in a Tzu Chi overseas free clinic, sending a team of 13 medical staff. Azian Binte Rawi (pictured above, back row, second from the right) expressed her gratitude for being invited to join the free clinic. Not only was this her first time serving overseas, but it also fulfilled her lifelong aspiration, even at her own expense.
She shared that, as a Muslim, she initially had concerns about food arrangements. However, once she learned that vegetarian food was provided throughout the stay, she concern dissipated. Azian said that although she was physically exhausted after three days of service, she was filled with joy at being able to help the local residents. Compared to Singapore, the wards there were rudimentary, dark, and empty, hence the hospital relies on assistance from other countries for medical resources. The differences between the Singapore and local wards here were really striking. The sincere gratitude in the residents' eyes after receiving the treatment left a deep impression in her, which made her silently say in her heart, "You're welcome.
Local medical professionals stepped forward to assist
In addition to doctors from overseas, local Sri Lankan medical professionals also actively participated in this free clinic. In the Western medicine department, for example, Dr Thilina Jayashanka (pictured below), a medical intern who attended Tzu-Chi National School in Hambantota, a school built by Tzu Chi after the 2004 South Asian tsunami, participated for the first time.
Thilina, who participated in the free clinic for the first time, expressed with gratitude, "My achievements are inseparable from Tzu Chi's support in my studies and life." Although it takes about two hours to get here by car from Kandy, he was happy to give back to the community.
As a local medical intern, Dr Thilina (left) was able to communicate directly with patients in their native language, eliminating the need for an interpreter. (Photo by Lee Foo Tien)
It is worth noting that there were only two ophthalmologists at the free clinic, and they were both local doctors. One of them, Dr Asela Abeydeera, is the President of the Association of Community Ophthalmologists of Sri Lanka. He met Arosha, the Director of Tzu Chi Sri Lanka, about five years ago while providing free cataract surgery and outpatient services at a temple. He has since continued to support Arosha's free cataract surgery programme.
Dr Asela explained that Tzu Chi assists patients with medical consultations and provides financial assistance for cataract surgery and follow-up care. During this free clinic, Tzu Chi also distributed free glasses to the public. He added that while Sri Lanka currently has testing and treatment facilities to address vision-threatening conditions such as glaucoma, diabetes, and retinopathy, cataract surgery remains expensive. Moreover, the waiting time at government hospitals often exceeds a year, preventing many patients from receiving timely treatment. Currently, cataracts are the most common eye disease seen in local ophthalmology clinics. On the first day of the free clinic, approximately 10% of the over 100 patients who visited the ophthalmology department were diagnosed with cataracts.
Another ophthalmologist, Dr L.S.P.S. Wijethunga, also participated in this free clinic at Dr Asela’s invitation. He expressed his excitement at the free clinic, saying, "This is my first time participating in a Tzu Chi event, and it feels very special because I get to meet people from different cultures." He added that the Kurunegala area is poorer and resource-scarce compared to urban areas. Therefore, if patients were found to have other diabetes-related conditions during screening, he could refer them to the appropriate agencies for follow-up care.
The sight of young volunteers in action at the free clinic brings great joy
On the morning before the free clinic began, a tuk-tuk equipped with two loudspeakers made its way through town streets and rural areas, broadcasting a friendly announcement in Sinhalese: “Tzu Chi Singapore and Sri Lanka will hold a free clinic on August 15th...” The message echoed through the streets and alleys, and the driver even stopped occasionally to explain the event to curious residents.
Due to limited publicity resources, Tzu Chi Youths in Sri Lanka used tuk-tuks to broadcast a looped message to spread the word about the free clinic to the public. (Photo by Lee Foo Tien)
At this free clinic, Sri Lankan volunteers served as interpreters which is a crucial role that bridges the gap between medical staff and the public. Vindhya (pictured below, second from left), who served as a volunteer interpreters at the Traditional Chinese Medicine section has participated in the free clinic for the second time. She happily shared, "I participated last year and I feel great to be back and participate again this time! I look forward to next year."
Notably, her 17-year-old daughter, Preksha (first from right in the photo below), also participated and served as the team leader of the dental translation team. Vindhya shared that her daughter regularly participates in Tzu Chi activities in her free time and has recently undergone volunteer training.
Vindhya (second from the left) and her 17-year-old daughter Preksha (first from the right) participated in the free clinic together. (Photo by Yaw Huey Xin)
Unlike in previous years, this year’s free clinic saw local Tzu Chi youths taking on greater responsibilities, such as serving as team leaders in various medical departments, promoting environmental protection and vegetarianism, assisting with translation and interpretation, and documenting moments of compassion and kindness. Through their active participation, they not only gained valuable experience but also grew in maturity and understanding through the responsibilities entrusted to them.
The silent heroes behind the smooth running of the free clinic
"Sansuvenna (Please relax)." "vēdanāva koheda tiyennē (Where does it hurt)?"
Singaporean volunteer Nur Hidayah Sim’s palms were fully written with Sinhalese phonetic transcription. This was her first time participating in a free clinic and she was responsible for the reception of TCM patients. In order to communicate with the locals, she wrote some local language on her palms.
At the same time, she discovered a “language” that transcends borders. “Although we don't speak the same language, a smile can transcend international boundaries and is a great connection between people." After three days of free clinics, she felt the same as the lyrics of the sign-language song Add another Candle that she had performed before. She expressed, "I believe that every small act of kindness will have a big impact." She also said that she thought she was there to contribute, but instead, she gained more humility and gratitude.
Despite the uneven path, volunteers worked together to push patients to their designated clinics. (Photo by Phang Wei Wan)
Behind every free clinic, the concerted efforts of various functional groups are essential. The mobility team is always among the first to arrive and one of the last groups to leave. Singaporean volunteer, Phua Koon Poh shared candidly, "Actually mobility is not an easy task. It requires not only physical strength and, even more so, determination." Team leader Tan Hua Hua added, "We have a wide range of responsibilities, including plumbing, electricity, and layout. We hope more young people will join us in the future to pass on our experience and spirit."
The logistics team is one of the main contributors to “turning decay into magic”, mainly handling difficult tasks such as water and electricity supply, transportation, and venue layout. (Photo by Lee Foo Tien)
Equally important is the food and beverage team, which prepares meals. The kitchen, originally planned for the second floor of the new building, was forced to be relocated to the parking lot of the old doctors' quarters due to insufficient water pressure. The volunteers worked tirelessly, cleaning and moving food for the second time without complaint.
Gan Cher Siang, a chef with over 20 years of experience, shared frankly, "Local food options are limited, so we have to adapt to the situation, especially since vegetables are not easy to come by." He lamented, "Compared to here, I feel very blessed and fortunate. Our country has far superior healthcare, facilities, infrastructure, and even the quality of life and employment conditions." He further added that through this experience, he could feel the passion, sincerity, and humility from his seniors. "Seeing each of us working hard and hundreds of us working in unity, is truly joyful."
Working alongside Gan Cher Siang is his best partner, Lieu Chen Hon. Lieu Chen Hon observed and noticed that some doctors struggled to adapt to the local cuisine due to its strong flavour coming from the local spices. Therefore, he and his team adjusted the menu to create flavours that appeal to everyone. Although only one meal is being prepared each day, the doctors were always eagerly anticipating it. "It is my honour and joy to ensure that they are all being well-fed and ready to serve their patients," he said with a smile.
The volunteers responsible for feeding hundreds of people gathered for a photo to capture the joy after a busy day. (Photo by Phang Wei Wan)
As some volunteers needed to leave immediately after the third day of the free clinic, the team held a heartwarming celebration the day before. The evening was filled with warmth and gratitude, with the local volunteers performing songs and dances to showcase their local culture, while the international volunteers presented several sign language performances to convey their love and gratitude. Arosha, the Sri Lankan volunteer director, took the stage to address the event, stating that this free clinic witnessed an unprecedented level of local volunteer participation, with over one hundred individuals involved.
The three-day free clinic, which began with an announcement broadcast from a tuk-tuk, ultimately concluded successfully thanks to the collaborative efforts of 284 volunteers and medical personnel. This initiative, which transcended mountains, seas, national boundaries, languages, and faiths, sowed the seeds of compassion and benevolence in this quaint town.
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