Last February we celebrated five years of the San Miguel Brewery Inc.'s Community Clinic. This outreach program of the company offers free medical services for its host communities in Mandaue City for diabetic and hypertensive patients.
Just as the health of the patients have been mitigated considering that these are lifetime lifestyle ailments, the clinic's physician has also looked into the total well-being of his patients. Dr. Joselito G. Te who has unselfishly given his care to his patients also took into consideration the other aspects of his patients' health.
On its first year, Dr. Te gave the patients a discussion on how to take care of their bodies especially how to keep their hands and feet clean and how to particularly give attention to a diabetic foot, giving tips on how to avoid getting hurt in the first place.
On its second year, a discussion on nutrition and how a diabetic and hypertensive patient must carefully choose what he eats. Taking in the calories, trans-fat, cholesterol, sodium and sugar controls.
On its third year, the patients who are mainly senior citizens were taught how to exercise without straining themselves. Then on its fourth year, the patients were treated to a talk on well-being and self- motivation.
This year, noting how fragile some patients have become the patients, were given a talk on spiritual preparedness.
It was a wonder how patients responded to what normally people would keep on postponing until they have nothing else to do, and that is seeking God. The interest in salvation and the truth of the gospel was palpable.
There was a hunger for the realities of Christian living expressed in their questions and desire to dig deeper into the Word of God.
Most of the patients are within their late 60s to mid-70s. Although there are some who are still in their late 40s, but they are just a few.
Perhaps age and the realities of our mortality has spurred their interest, or perhaps no one has really bothered to discuss the Bible or studied the word with them in a more intimate fashion. It seemed like some of them just heard how God's promises and how they could bank on His faithfulness even in the midst of their physical needs and health issues.
The clinic has already lost three patients, two to complications and one to an accident. It is the desire of this column to give hope through Christ by helping the patients know our God more and have more intimate relationship with Christ through a daily Bible habit. But not all of them have Bibles. So allow this column to make this call for Bibles in CEBUANO that can be given as a gift to the patients.
Should you want to donate please just drop them off at The Freeman Office and address your donation to Business After Business. Kindly indicate your name and contact number or email ad so we may be able to acknowledge you.
Your gift would truly help make a difference in giving hope and letting the patients live an abundant life in Jesus so let me thank you in advance on their behalf.