DNL’s Speech during the Kansas City
Medical Mission Closing Ceremonies held last November 8, 2006.
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| ``A Common Mission`` |
For the past few days, there was no sign of leisure for
our guests from the medical missions foundation of Kansas
City and local volunteers. And so although we wish we
could extend this activity a little longer, we know this
year’s edition must come to a close.
I am truly honored to rise before you tonight to convey my
personal gratitude, and those of a grateful city, to the
men and women who have brought light into this city with
the kind of service rarely seen in this age of selfishness
and materialism.
There is no denying that more and more people have been
converted into the religion called materialism. The ranks
of its adherents defy the boundaries of culture, ideology,
race, economy and profession.
These days, it is the norm for hospitals to refuse
admission to the sick and the ailing who cannot make
down-payments. No payment, no treatment, as simple as
that.
Gone are the days when medical science was revered for its
nobility considering that it seeks to cure and restore
hurting people.
Like all other professions that have deteriorated into
nothing much but sting jobs preying on hapless individuals
who stray into their dens, more and more health
professionals are being lured into the religion that
worships self.
In such a world of indifference, it is therefore a
surprising but certainly refreshing experience to find a
rare breed of men and women giving not only their skills
and their time but virtually themselves to a noble
activity that is the medical mission.
You are a special breed of healers however. Even though
employed in undoubtedly among the most advanced hospitals
and centers of wellness in the world, you have not
forgotten the least of your brethren thousands of miles
away. You have not allowed your comfortable surroundings
to make you neglect and forget those who are not
comfortable. Even when you are surrounded by walls of
security, comfort and privilege, you chose to move out of
your comfort zone in times like this just to make a
difference in the lives of those who have not known
comfort, privilege and security.
You, the members of the medical mission led by dr. Doug
Girod, shared not only your talents but your very lives to
people who could not have availed of your skills had you
chose to limit yourselves to your comfortable confines
back in Kansas.
Many of the people who avail of your services may not have
even thought of Kansas for a single minute until you came
into their lives. And yet, from this day on, for the rest
of their lives, it will be your faces that they will
remember when they think your city.
There are some who are willing to pay but do not have
access to specialists in this part of the country. They
are exceptions however. Most could not care less for as
long as they can get access to treatment without paying
for it.
These people are like the sick man in the pool of Bethesda
whom Jesus healed in one of his miracles. They are not
exactly sure whether they are waiting for treatment, or
for death itself.
This is a world where people have grown so cynical they
have lost not only hope but also dignity, people who think
the world owes them a living. In blaming the comfortable
for their miseries, they demand help but do not appreciate
it. They believe that their desperation is enough to
justify their ingratitude.
Ingratitude however is one thing i don’t want the people
of Tagbilaran to be known for. It is precisely in behalf
of all the beneficiaries of this medical mission that we
express our collective gratitude to all of you who made
this activity successful.
Definitely, we cannot thank you enough. This is a city
that has given priority to health, the very reason why we
really appreciate what you have done for us. In our own
humble way, even with our meager resources, we have given
the poorest of our people access to health through what we
call the blue card project. This is a hospitalization
project that ensures that no patient will be turned away
from the government hospital simply because he or she is
poor and unable to pay.
Long after you have returned to your respective homes to
resume your life after this missionary trip, you can have
the reassurance that your humanitarian gesture through
this medical mission will not been in vain. It lives on in
the valiant efforts of the men and women who carry on the
valiant mission to provide access to health to the poor in
this city.
Outwardly, the similarities may not show. But inwardly, we
share a mission that will live on long after this medical
mission is over. The mission to make a difference in an
indifferent world will be a light that will continue to
shine the cities of Kansas and Tagbilaran.
William Shakespeare once said that the miserable has no
other medicine but hope. Here in Tagbilaran, it is our
commitment that the miserable will have hope by giving
them access to medicine.
This is a commitment we made and which we intend to
perpetuate especially in your honor. Once again, thank you
very much and may god continue to bless each and every one
of you.
Daghang Salamat and Mabuhay! |
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