When medical expertise meets compassionate charity, volunteers become better equipped to reach every corner of society. They not only offer care but also provide practical health skills, ensuring their support is both steady and warm. A recent workshop in Muar, Malaysia, brought together medical professionals and volunteers, infusing the community with enhanced caregiving capabilities.

On August 3, 2025, Tzu Chi Muar’s charity team collaborated with medical professionals to host a "Charity Medical Workshop" at the Muar Jing Si Hall. This event aimed to strengthen community health knowledge by combining professional expertise with heartfelt care. The workshop, themed "Strengthening Care, Safeguarding Health," featured four medical professionals, all members of the Tzu Chi International Medical Association (TIMA) in Muar, who shared practical medical and caregiving knowledge with 91 volunteers. An additional 35 volunteers assisted, creating an atmosphere of learning and compassion.

Enhancing Kidney Health Awareness

Kidney disease often progresses silently, yet it affects a significant portion of the population. According to 2024 statistics from the Malaysia Ministry of Health, approximately 4.7 million Malaysians suffer from chronic kidney disease. Raising public awareness about kidney disease is therefore crucial.

Nurse Du Shu-Zhen (杜淑甄), Director of the Muar Lions Club Dialysis Centre, led a session on "Kidney Disease Awareness." She noted that public understanding of kidney disease remains limited and emphasized that Tzu Chi volunteers, through their consistent community and home visits, serve as a vital bridge, bringing professional knowledge into patients' lives and guiding the community towards healthier lifestyles.

"Our kidneys are the body's cleaners," Nurse Du reminded attendees. She stressed the importance of avoiding high-fat, high-sugar, and processed foods, consuming 1,500 to 2,000 ml of water daily, and maintaining regular exercise to reduce kidney burden. She also cautioned against the indiscriminate use of medications and health supplements, particularly unverified "kidney-boosting" or "weight-loss" products, which can cause irreversible kidney damage. She specifically emphasized the importance of a "fistula" as a critical lifeline for dialysis patients. Given the limited surgical opportunities and high costs, infection or blockage poses significant risks. She urged volunteers to gently remind patients to maintain cleanliness and observe their fistulas during visits, safeguarding this precious connection to life.

"Transform what you've learned into strength, not only to protect yourselves but also to reach out to families and deeply care for individuals," Nurse Du concluded, inspiring the volunteers.

Compassionate Caregiving in Practice

In Tzu Chi's caregiving journey, medical professionals and volunteers walk hand-in-hand, extending their love to every corner in need. Nurse Yan Li-Qing (顏麗清), Head Nurse at the Tangkak Lions Club Dialysis Centre, has dedicated years to supporting patients. Beyond her professional role, she gently guides visiting volunteers, offering medical consultations during home visits.

She understands that many volunteers, despite their enthusiasm, may have blind spots regarding medical details, such as when to change urinary catheters or how to prevent pressure sores in bedridden patients. Timely reminders and communication of these seemingly minor details can often reduce patient discomfort and complications. "Try lying on a hospital bed; after a while, you'll feel uncomfortable," she said during her lecture, demonstrating by lying on a bed and inviting volunteers to experience what bedridden patients feel. This exercise aimed to foster greater empathy and meticulous observation during their visits.

Nurse Zhang Xiu-Hua (張秀華), a retired government hospital nurse with over 30 years of experience, continues to apply her expertise in Tzu Chi. She has dedicated years to home visits and wound care, safeguarding the health of countless individuals. In her session, she focused on wound observation and basic assessment, particularly highlighting the need for extra vigilance with diabetic wounds. "With this knowledge, volunteers can understand and assess whether a wound is improving," she explained gently but firmly. She encouraged volunteers, "As long as you are dedicated, anything is possible. Don't be afraid of difficulty or dirt; teach with care and accompany with sincerity, and every case will improve."

Empowering Safe Mobility

For the elderly or those with mobility challenges, medical aids are not just conveniences but crucial supports for daily safety. Physiotherapist Yan Fei-Ting (顏斐婷) shared practical knowledge and techniques for using medical aids, stressing that "choosing the right aid and using it correctly" is paramount. Incorrect use can lead to falls, postural imbalance, or even secondary injuries. She demonstrated actions like getting out of bed, safe transfers, and navigating stairs, and answered common questions from volunteers regarding community care, such as how to assist larger patients with transfers. These practical skills enable volunteers to correct improper postures and recommend suitable equipment, reducing injury risks and ensuring greater safety for both caregivers and care recipients.

From Patient to Caregiver: A Journey of Resilience

The professional insights and practical demonstrations deeply enhanced the volunteers' caregiving skills. Beyond the medical instruction, the workshop also featured a patient's life story, serving as a powerful and moving lesson. In 2002, Tan Hwee Lan (陳惠蘭) was diagnosed with kidney disease, a turning point in her life. Though she once felt helpless and lost, today she walks with determination as a Tzu Chi volunteer, gently accompanying others facing similar illnesses and living a life of renewed purpose.

"I must know how to take care of myself; others cannot do it for me," she affirmed. Aware of her physical limitations, she meticulously manages her diet and routine. Her fistula, a lifeline for dialysis patients, is a priority for her careful protection. "The fistula is very important, otherwise, one surgery costs over ten thousand Malaysian Ringgit!" Her illness taught her discipline and the value of life. In 2011, she made a vow: no longer just a recipient of help, but someone willing to extend a helping hand, shifting from "receiving" to "giving." Despite her illness, she diligently makes time for volunteer training and charitable activities.

"Every day, I talk to my body, asking it to accompany me on this Tzu Chi path. When you participate, you will understand what it means to appreciate your blessings by witnessing suffering." — Tan Hwee Lan

Volunteers Reflect on New Skills

"The lessons today have been incredibly beneficial," said See Ah Wee (施雅慧), a long-term community visitor. She understands that when volunteers possess accurate medical knowledge, they can truly accompany those suffering from illness more deeply and effectively. She was particularly struck by the "correct use of medical aids" session, which completely changed her perception. She learned that most people, including volunteers, instinctively step out with their uninjured leg first, inadvertently placing excessive pressure on the healthy leg, which can lead to injury in both legs.

Qin Yi-Hua (覃薏樺), Dharma name Lu-Xiu (慮秀), traveled from Segamat with eight other volunteers, arriving with anticipation and leaving with a wealth of knowledge. She was most impressed by the wound care and patient transfer techniques, such as safely assisting patients in and out of bed or transferring them to a wheelchair. Having never received professional guidance before, she noted, "Many elderly living alone don't even know how to care for themselves. If volunteers have the correct knowledge, they can provide more practical help."

A Path of Hope and Healing

Illness may be relentless, but compassion offers solace. This workshop, blending medical expertise with charity, not only imparted knowledge but also made the volunteers' caregiving efforts more grounded and empathetic. Everyone cherished this rare opportunity, focusing on learning to provide more practical and warm support to those suffering from illness.

This newfound knowledge will travel with the volunteers, reaching alleys and bedsides, allowing love and professionalism to circulate within the community, bringing hope to more families. The intersection of medicine and charity illuminates every corner of the community, fostering a virtuous cycle between medical professionals and volunteers, flowing ceaselessly.

Written by Yo Choon Yen (楊春燕)

Translated by Novia Cheng (鄭雅尹)

Source: 醫療慈善攜手行 專業愛心同路