Following Cyclone Nargis in May 2008, a mobile medical clinic was set up by the 'Road to Mandalay' social initiative supported by Orient Express and former passengers to operate in the badly-affected Delta Region of Myanmar.
The work in the Delta up to July 2009 is described in the post Relief Work in Myanmar. Relief Work in the Delta from July 2009 to November 2010 is described in the post Relief Work in Myanmar (Part 2). This article describes more recent trips to the Delta by the Medical Team.
By the end of 2010, Dr. Hla Tun commented, the number of NGOs providing relief in the Delta had reduced as the support was intended to be temporary. The victims of the Cyclone lost everything they possessed. Provided they are in good health, people can earn a living. A 'Township' can comprise up to 600 villages. Of these, 15 to 20 villages may have their own Doctor and 150 to 200 villages may have a Nurse or Midwife. Many patients have no money for the ferry fare to enable them to consult a Doctor in a Township, hence the importance of continuing to operate the RTM mobile medical clinics.
Each trip to the Delta by the RTM mobile clinics cost around 550 U.S. Dollars in 2010. Typically, there are two trips each month each treating, on average, 600 patients in 6 villages.
53rd Trip
919 patients were treated, bringing the total number of patients treated to 26,046.
54th Trip
The medical team, headed by a volunteer doctor and a health assistant, treated 771 patients over four days. The mobile clinic was set up in the villages of Hlaing Bone, Kyein Chaung Gyi (the deadliest village in Bogalay Township) and Ma Lot (Myit Tan). These villages also cover 12 to 14 neighbouring villages. The total number of patients treated is now 26,817.
55th Trip
804 patients were treated, bringing the total number of patients treated to 27,621.
56th Trip
846 patients were treated, bringing the total number of patients treated to 28,467.
57th Trip
945 patients were treated, bringing the total number of patients treated to 29,412.
58th Trip
808 patients were treated, bringing the total number of patients treated to 30,220.
59th Trip
743 patients were treated, bringing the total number of patients treated to 30,963.
60th Trip
330 patients were treated, bringing the total number of patients treated to 31,293.
61st Trip
539 patients were treated, bringing the total number of patients treated to 31,832.
62nd Trip
The mobile medical team went to the Delta on 7th October 2011, holding clinics in four villages and treating 891 patients, bringing the total number of patients treated to 32,723.
Additional Trips to Rakhine State
It should be noted that, in October 2010, Cyclone Giri caused devastation further north, in Rakhine State. Although fewer people were involved than in the Delta, the results were equally serious for those involved and the 'Road to Mandalay' social initiative operated a number of relief trips to Rakhine State, in addition to continuing the mobile clinics in the Delta Area. The work in Rakhine State is described here.
