Orphans and Vulnerable Children Project in Myanmar

This report is based on information from Doctor Hla Tun, who also supplied the photographs.

In an earlier post ('Road to Mandalay' co-operation with other organisations) I described how the United Nations Childrens Fund ('UNICEF') had withdrawn funding from the Orphans and Vulnerable Children ('OVC') Project in Myanmar. I also explained that a German Foundation which provides help for HIV affected children, with local assistance from Doctor Hla Tun, started to provide funding in 2012 to allow the 'OVC' project in Myanmar to continue its work.

The 'OVC' Project in 2013

Between the 31st May and 2nd June 2013 (during the 'Road to Mandalay' 'off season' for 2013), Doctor Hla Tun visited Mon State and villages within Tha Nin Thar Yi Division to provide assistance to the Orphans and Vulnerable Children Project. The Project includes HIV infected children, HIV affected children and children whose parents can’t afford for them to attend school.

These children are helped by providing school enrolment fees and stationery. Twice a year a Forum is arranged providing snacks and cold drinks. Material and moral support is also provided to the Education Car Provider - the Self Help Groups ('SHG').

In the 2012-13 academic year, help was provided to 446 'OVC' students but in the 2013-2014 academic year (starting on 3rd June 2013) this number was raised and 758 'OVC' students were helped.

The distributions for 2013-2014 were made during Doctor Hla Tun's visits to Maw La Myaing City and Mu Don Township (included in Mon State) and the villages of La Mine and Kod Dut (included in Yaye township within Tha Nin Thar Yi Division). The numbers of 'OVC' students assisted at each location are:-

Maw La Myaing: 288
Mu Don: 142
Kod Dut: 202
La Mine: 126

Distribution at Mu Don

There are three Drop In Centres ('DIC') in Mu Don township (part of Mon state). Students from those centres came to the Win Sein Taw Ya Pagoda Compound on 1st June 2013 to receive support for the academic year 2013-14. Students were given school enrolment fee, stationery, a cold drink and a snack.

Distribution of support to OVC students at Win Sein Taw Ya Pagoda Compound.

The Win Sein Taw Ya Pagoda houses the World's Largest Reclining Buddha.

The World's Largest Reclining Buddha.

Incidentally, I visited the World's Largest Reclining Buddha in 2012 and that visit is described here. My photographs of this remarkable construction are here.

Distribution at Kod Dut

Distribution of stationery, snacks and drinks was made at the Drop In Centre ('DIC') in Kod Dut village on 1st June 2013.

Distribution of stationery, snacks and drinks at the Drop In Centre in Kod Dut village.

The Mon Ethnic Temporary School is about 5 miles from Kod Dut. It was founded by a Monk, has five classrooms and is recognised by the government.

Mon Ethnic temporary School.

Very poor Mon students attending the school were invited to Kod Dut on 1st June 2013 to receive stationery. They travelled from their school in the Monk's white pick-up, wearing the traditional Mon ethnic costume of white and red. The girls cheeks were covered with thanaka (the creamy, natural make-up and sun-screen made from the Thanaka tree), rather than cosmetics.

Students from Mon Ethnic temporary School.

Bagan Medical Clinic: May, June, July 2013

This report is based on information from Doctor Hla Tun, who also supplied the photographs.

The 'Road to Mandalay' luxury river cruise ship (operated by Orient-Express) has a regular schedule sailing the Ayeyarwady River between Mandalay and Bagan in Myanmar (Burma). On Friday, Saturday and Sunday each week the 'Road to Mandalay' is anchored at Bagan, whilst the ship's Guests experience the remarkable sights of Bagan.

Doctor Hla Tun is the Ship's Doctor on 'Road to Mandalay' and he also manages the 'RTM Social Contribution' which supports a number of charitable initiatives in Myanmar in the field of education and medical support. The Bagan Medical Clinic, opened in August 2011, is perhaps the most ambitious of these initiatives. The Clinic is open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday each week, staffed by two local doctors and a number of health assistants. In addition to looking after the Guests on the ship, the indefatigable Doctor Hla Tun becomes the senior doctor at the Clinic on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The 'Road to Mandalay' has an 'off season' (in 2013 from 8th May to 14th July) when Doctor Hla Tun is able to return to Yangon. However, the Bagan Medical Clinic continues to open as normal during the ship's 'off season' and, in 2013, Doctor Hla Tun spent five weeks during the 'off season' back at the Bagan Medical Clinic.

Patients waiting in front of the clinic. Some are holding their white medical record books issued by the Clinic.

During May, 3,303 treatments were carried out, during June a further 5,586 and during July 6,079 more, bringing the total number of treatments since the Clinic opened (on 6th August 2011) to 69,892. Because of the high demand, the facilities at the Clinic are being expanded with the construction of a new building.

Patients enjoying free lunch in front of the new clinic building under construction next to the original building.

A free lunch is provided because the long distances most patients travel to reach the Clinic necessitates patients setting off very early in the day or even the previous day.

Treatment is provided free for poor patients and on a cost-sharing basis for those who can afford to make a contribution. Where hospitalisation is required for further management of their condition, poor patients may also receive a donation from the Clinic for transportation, accommodation and part of cost of surgical procedures or blood transfusions. All this work is funded by both foreign and local donors, supported by local volunteers.

Monks and volunteers preparing lunch in the Monastery Compound for clinic patients.

As an example, one young boy was diagnosed with Ascites (accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity) and congenital heart disease. A donation was made by the Clinic for further management of the condition in hospital.

This boy with Ascites and congenital heart disease was given a donation for further management of the condition in hospital.

The Clinic can only deal with outpatient procedures. Not realising this, one mother brought her son who is suffering from congenital Spina Bifida. However, the Clinic was able to refer her to a hospital for further management of the condition and donate money towards the costs.

Spina Bifida patient.

One 49 year old lady had a very unfortunate experience. She suffered from Diabetes with numbness of her feet and hands due to neurological involvement. Since she lived in a remote village about 70 km from the Bagan Clinic she hired a motor bike and driver to bring her to the Clinic. On the way, the motor bike suffered a flat tyre and she and the driver had to walk for around an hour to reach a shop which could re-inflate the tyre. Whilst walking, she removed her sandals but because of the numbness in her feet she did not realise that the friction between the soles of her feet and the tarmac road surface was damaging the skin on her feet and creating blisters. On arrival at the Clinic, she had to sleep in the Monastery overnight, before seeing Doctor Hla Tun the following day, with additional problems to the original diabetes with neurological involvement.

Damage to the feet of a diabetic patient.

Treatment Summary

The table below summarises the number of treatments per month and the total number of treatments since the clinic started.

Month	Patients treated	Total treatments
August 2011	355	355
September 2011	784	1,139
October 2011	1,434	2,573
November 2011	1,723	4,296
December 2011	2,013	6,309
January 2012	1,605	7,889
February 2012	2,464	10,353
March 2012	4,603	14,956
April 2012	2,043	16,999
May 2012 - Jan 2013	To be added	To be added
February 2013	2,713	49,850
March 2013	2,713	49,850
April 2013	2,061	54,924
May 2013	3,303	58,227
June 2013	5,586	63,813
July 2013	6,079	69,892