THE MOBILE CLINICS

Mention should also be made at this point of the mobile medical and dental clinics of Methodism in both Luzon and Mindanao. Staffed by Christian doctors, dentists, nurses and evangelists, they pursue a thrilling ministry in rugged, isolated areas of the Philippines. They provide the means whereby thousands upon thousands are reached by both the healing and teaching ministry of Christ's Church.

The first of these mobile clinics began in 1949, as the Church World Service Mobile Medical Clinic. It was made possible, as the name suggests, by funds from Church World Service, which set up and supported the clinic for its first six months. Then the .Woman's Division of Christian Service began assuming support of the work. The first staff included Dorothy Edwards, director; George Ros, medical doctor, who had had prior experience in the Philippine War Relief Mobile Clinic; Josefina CabaniJla, a graduate of Mary Johnston School of Nursing who later became the first Filipina director of the clinic; and Camilo Toledo, mechanic and driver, who later was to enter the ministry and become one of Methodism's pioneer pastors in Mindanao. The clinic served the Cagayan Valley with heroism and sacrifice; it brought health to thousands who had no other hope of medical service. Later the clinic staff was enlarged when a dentist, Dr. Ricardo Flores, came as volunteer worker. The clinic went as far as its old truck would take it, and when the truck would go no farther, the staff went by foot, horse- back, bull cart, motor boat, carabao, jeep and plane. Far and wide they ranged, bringing medical and dental treatment, health lectures, educational and religious films and evangelistic services.¹²⁴ Today there is also a permanent clinic in San Mateo, Isabela.

A Mobile Clinic with an X-Ray Unit was begun in 1955 in the Northwest Philippines Annual Conference, with a staff consisting of a missionary doctor, two nurses and a driver-mechanic. In addition to general medical services, this clinic placed a premium on dealing with one of the worst diseases in the Philippines – tuberculosis. This work was undergirded by health lectures and religious and educational films. To give an example of the outreach of this clinic, by 1960 it was performing well over six thousand chest surveys annually and its films were being seen by over 66,000 each year.¹²⁵

When Methodist work opened in Mindanao, the work of these clinics was extended to the south. Centering its work at the Methodist Rural Center in Kidapawan, Cotabato, but ranging far into the interior of Mindanao, this new medical and dental clinic pioneered in reaching frontier areas with the healing ministry of Christ.


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