As charity work expanded in the region, Tzu Chi volunteers discovered that Tegucigalpa’s hygienic conditions and a shortage of daily necessities must be addressed. Most rural areas in the region lacked clean tap water, and people stored water in various containers. With inadequate sanitary essentials, mosquitoes and diseases thrived, leading to annual outbreaks of infectious diseases such as dengue fever. Following the devastation brought by Hurricane Mitch in 1998, additional natural disasters struck. In 2020, Honduras underwent its most active hurricane season in recorded history, battered by 30 storms, and hit by hurricanes Eta and Iota within a two-week span. This cascade of challenges has hindered efforts for growth and recovery in Honduras, allowing little opportunity to recover fully. 

While residents in Tegucigalpa may have government health insurance, not everyone can afford the premiums. Uninsured patients visiting public hospitals must pay a consultation fee of $35. However, this cost is a significant amount for people who are medically uninsured and financially disadvantaged.

“I found that the disadvantaged people here don’t have the privilege to seek medical treatment, so Tzu Chi should hold medical consultations here,” explained Chang, who resides in Tegucigalpa. “I proposed this idea to Tzu Chi International Medical Association, hoping to collaborate and organize medical consultations in Tegucigalpa.” 

Through the introduction of Martin Kuo, Chang met William Keh, the Executive Director of the Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation at the time. The two became fast friends, and Tzu Chi’s medical resources were brought in. With support from Tzu Chi’s global headquarters in Hualien, Taiwan, from 2012 to 2013, a Tzu Chi community medical center was established in Marcovia. On March 15, 2015, Tzu Chi International Medical Association (TIMA) physicians and volunteers came to Marcovia for Tzu Chi’s first medical consultations, providing fundamental medical services to community members alongside 29 local doctors.

The overwhelming medical demand exceeded expectations, and physicians had to adapt to unexpected cases during the event. “It was a bit chaotic on-site. Even though it was our first medical consultation service in Tegucigalpa — not only for us but also for the local doctors and all our volunteers — I think we did quite well,” shared Dr. Stephen Denq, who oversaw the distribution of necessary medications. 

Thanks to the seamless cooperation of local doctors, volunteers, and the Tzu Chi team, the two-day medical event, serving over 1,000 patients, was a wonderful success. “All the volunteers collaborated very well,” shared Steven Voon, Executive Vice President of the Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation. “What I’m most grateful for is the compassion of the Tegucigalpa volunteers. They really want to learn, want to help, and sincerely want to assist their fellow countrymen,” he said.