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Myanmar (ex-Burma)

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Burma/Myanmar - Yangon suburbs, Shan State , Rakhine State

»FIELD LOCATION
Yangon suburbs: Dala, Seikki Khanaungdho and Twantay
Autonomous Wa region (Shan State)
Buthidaung region (Rakhine State)

»TARGET POPULATION `
Yangon suburbs: 265,000
Wa region: 140,000
Rakhine (Northern Rakhine State): 251,000

»A.M.I. TEAM
16 expatriates: 1 head of operations, 1 administrative coordinator, 1 medical coordinator, 1 logistics coordinator, 1 water and sanitation adviser, 3 project managers, 2 medical advisers, 1 HIV prevention adviser, 1 head of health education activities, 1 epidemiologist
In the Cyclone Nargis program: 1 emergency program manager, 1 logistician for restoration, 1 administrator
310 local staff members (medical personnel, personnel specialized in logistics and administration)

»FUNDING ECHO, EuropeAid, Three Diseases Fund, UNHCR, UNFPA.

Myanmar is an ethnic melting pot. Since its independence, the country has been destabilized by conflicts between the majority Bamar population and various minorities, some of which are officially recognized and possess certain rights. Others are ignored by the authorities and live in extremely insecure conditions. During the 1980s and 90s, armed conflicts affected over two million people, resulting in migrations across the Burmese territory and outside its borders. Today, the situation is still one of concern, and access to health care remains limited, especially for minorities and vulnerable people.
In general, the mortality rate of these populations is higher than that of other populations in the country. Women and children are the most common victims of the situation. These fragile populations are also the most affected by HIV/AIDS. Because of poverty, lack of education and difficult access to information and health care structures, HIV is a major risk, and the urgency of the fight against the pandemic of HIV/ AIDS is recognized by the government of Myanmar.
During 2008, an increase in protests triggered by the rise in oil prices led to serious demonstrations followed by arrests. The year 2008 was also marked by a humanitarian crisis after Cyclone Nargis in the south of the country.



Ever since its first missions conducted during the 1990s, A.M.I. has focused its operations on the most fragile populations of the country. Accordingly, a new mission was launched in 2001 in the suburbs of Yangon, extending to other territories and especially vulnerable populations: Shan State in 2003 and Rakhine State in 2004.
The various minority populations – the Karens, mountain ethnics in Shan State; Lahu; Akha; Wa; Rohingyas in Rakhine State – and the displaced or “transferred” peoples (suburban Yangon, particularly in Dala), are beneficiaries of A.M.I. programs. Added to these are the inhabitants in the Irawaddy Delta struck by Cyclone Nargis in May 2008.



A.M.I.’s mission in Burma/Myanmar includes nine bases of operations in three areas: the suburbs of Yangon, Shan State and Rakhine State.

» The suburbs of Yangon
In the suburbs of Yangon, and particularly in the townships of Dala, Seikki Khanaungdho and Twantay, comprising 300,000 inhabitants, mostly displaced persons, A.M.I. operations focus on:
> access to water and sanitation for inhabitants and schools: construction of wells and reservoirs, sanitation works, support for management and maintenance committees, distribution of cleanliness kits
> health and hygiene education
> prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS. The specialized teams in the three A.M.I. health care centers train counselors, distribute condoms and provide testing and treatment.
> preventive care designed for women for children under five and for reproductive health, provided in specialized mother/child structures
> emergency rescue operations for victims of Cyclone Nargis
During the night between May 2 and 3, 2008, Cyclone Nargis struck the Irrawaddy Delta and the Yangon Division in the southern part of Burma/Myanmar. A large number of homes and health care structures were destroyed. A.M.I. teams were able to intervene rapidly with emergency action, supplying shelters, food, cleanliness kits, epidemiologic preventive care, sanitation, etc. Post-emergency operations followed, many of which continue today.

» Wa Region (Shan State)
Li the Wa region, A.M.I. teams focus on the following activities:
> primary health care (support for the few health care structures in the area, supply of medicine, mobile clinics)
> hospital referrals
> mother/child health care (including post-partum and newborn follow-up as well as vaccinations)
> epidemiological monitoring essentially involving prevention and treatment of malaria
> consolidation of capabilities of the community health care network
> health education sessions involving hygiene and certain pathologies such as malaria and tuberculosis.

» Rakhine State (northwest of the country, NRS – Northern Rakhine State)
In the urban vicinity of Buthidaung and the district of Myeik, A.M.I. is conducting the following operations:
> consolidating the community health care network within the scope of primary health care
> primary health care with support to the few health care structures in the area, mobile clinics, referrals, and special attention to mother/ child health, prenatal and post-partum care, prevention of HIV and malnutrition
> family health care education sessions (general, reproductive, family planning)
> prevention of malaria and epidemiological monitoring.