Monday, August 15, 2011

600 people benefit from Ramadan medical mission in Zamboanga





Young Moro Professionals Network releases photos from the medical mission in Zamboanga City.

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - A growing organization of young Muslim professionals marked the celebration of the holy month of Ramadhan with charity as it catered to some 600 indigents in a medical outreach mission in Zamboanga City in Mindanao.

Dubbed as “Ramadhan Medical Mission,” the Young Moro Professionals Network – Western Mindanao (YMPN-WM) brought together some 20 medicals doctors and dozens of nurses and volunteers and served the indigents on Saturday in the village of Kampung Islam.

Amir Mawallil, chairperson of the YMPN-WM,said the outreach mission was very symbolic since it was held held in time with Ramadhan. “It is our pleasure to extend charitable act like this as our way of giving back to our communities, more so that it is being conducted during this holy month,” he said.

Ramadhan, the ninth month in the Hijrah calendar, is when Muslims all over the world fast for 30 days and perform charitable activities and other good deeds.

“We want to show that as young Moro professionals, we can do something positive for our people,” said Dr. Titina Loong, the group’s vice
chairperson and lead organizer of the medical mission.

“Young Moros are not rebels, terrorists, or called or branded by any other names that depict us negatively, but we are professionals – responsible and capable to do works for the upliftment of our communities,” said Dr. Loong, who is also a fellow at the Philippine Society of Anesthesiologist.

The group said it served patients with cases of hypertension, heart problems, diabetes, cough, fever, and skin diseases. Hundreds of children with different medical problems were also diagnosed.

Kampung Islam village chieftain Datu Ahmad Narzad said they are very grateful that his village was chosen as the venue of the medical mission.

“We really need this kind of assistance and we are very happy that a group of Muslim professionals and medical practitioners is the one giving answer to our prayers. We are very thankful to everyone for serving our people,” Narzad said.

The activity, the first outreach conducted by YMPN-WM, was made possible in partnership with the Philippine Society of Anesthesiologist, the Barangay Council of Kampung Islam, the medical practitioners in the city, nurses and volunteers from Western Mindanao State University, Ateneo De Zamboanga University, Brent Hospital and Colleges (Colleges of Midwifery and Nursing) and other groups that donated medicines and extended assistance. (Nuhman Aljani)

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