Monday, 14 April 2014

Bagan Medical Clinic, March 2014

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

The Bagan Clinic made 2,265 treatments in March 2014, bringing the total number of treatments since the Clinic opened about two and a half years ago to 100,203.

Treatment Summary

The table below summarises the number of treatments per month in 2013/2014 and the total number of treatments since the clinic opened on August 6, 2011.

Month Treatments in month Total treatments
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
August 2013 5,337 75,229
September 2013 4,826 80,055
October 2013 3,647 83,702
November 2013 4,465 88,167
December 2013 3,387 91,554
January 2014 3,501 95,057
February 2014 2,881 97,938
March 2014 2,265 100,203

Monthly notes

In March, the temperature in Bagan is around 40 to 42 degree Celsius and fewer patients attend. Most patients have to travel significant distances to reach the clinic and the heat makes travelling more uncomfortable.

An 81-year old lady had travelled 55km from her village to the clinic. A week before, she suffered a fracture of the neck of her left femur. She needed assistance both medically and financially. A donation was made for further management in the Hospital.

An 81-year old lady with a fractured femur.

In January, a 12-year old boy suffering from mucopolysacchroidosis was brought to the Clinic by his mother. According to his mother, he could speak until he was 5-years old but the condition became worse and he has been unable to speak since he was 6-years old. A donation was made to assist with an investigation at the hospital in Mandalay and a local Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) was suggested for additional help. After a CT-scan a diagnosis of mucopolysacchroidosis with ventricular enlargement was made. The neurosurgeon suggested surgery to improve the ventricular problem. The NGO has provided 50% of the cost of surgery and the Bagan Clinic has donated 25% of the cost.

12-year old boy suffering from mucopolysacchroidosis.

On the 'Clinic Days' Friday and Saturday, a free lunch is served to patients and their companions. Between 250 and 400 meals are served each day.

Free lunches being prepared at the Bagan Clinic.

There are a number of posts in this Blog on medical support in Myanmar provided by the RTM Social Contribution with help from donors around the world. You can find them all here.

Doctor Hla Tun's photographs showing the work of the Bagan Clinic in 2014 are here. There's a larger collection of pictures showing the Bagan Clinic from its inception here.