Yangon Catholics help poor villages with mobile clinic
Yangon (AsiaNews/Ucan) - The archdiocese of Yangon has organized a mobile clinic to care for the inhabitants of poor villages, and to provide them with health education. The service is being provided from a truck that the commission has rented.
In its first week of operation, last January 24, the mobile clinic stopped at the village of Ngetorsan, just south of Yangon, where about 140 inhabitants crowded into the area around the church of Saint Teresa.
The team, made up of seven doctors, two nurses, and a specialized technician, conducted checkups and blood analysis, distributed medication, and gave health education classes to the population, including children, pregnant women, the elderly and sick, of three neighboring villages.
Mary Aye Aye Khaing, age 39, says that unsanitary water is the cause of diseases for many people: "We are not used to boiling water. We drink water from wells and lakes, so most children suffer from diarrhea, including my baby." For her, the mobile clinic is a welcome service. "If something happens, we have to go to town to see the doctor. But I am poor and I cannot afford to go. I really thank this group of doctors and nurses."
Tint Lwin, a 47-year-old Buddhist, also uses the mobile clinic. He appreciates the initiative, and explains that "cyclone Nargis left us poor, and we can't afford to go to the clinic when we are sick. Now the doctors gave me medicines for my aching hand and through their health education we come to know about all the diseases and precautions."
While waiting to be seen, Sanda, a 46-year-old Baptist woman who has problems with her vision and a constant headache, talks about her 4-year-old daughter, who has no vaginal opening. Since she does not have money for treatment, Sanda hopes that she will get help from the Catholic doctors, and Dr. Valentina Soe Myint explains to her that the team will make sure that the girl can be taken to the hospital in Yangon.
The members of the mobile clinic team say that during their visits to the various villages, they collect a list of medicines that the inhabitants need, and find out beforehand whether people are affected by particular illnesses. Dr. Soe Myint explains the intention of the project: "We will go from village to village to give medical treatment, and if needed we will conduct follow-up treatment. We will also try to help those who are in need of medical treatment in Yangon hospitals."
The health education program deals with illnesses like diarrhea, dengue, influenza, and hypertension, but also with good hygiene. "No one has given health education to the villagers," explains Felistidine Cherry, a nurse. 'We have a great chance to share our knowledge with the poorest people."
The health commission of the archdiocese of Yangon was created in 2003, through the initiative of associations of Catholic doctors and nurses. The members also work as volunteers at the St. Lazarus Clinic in the city, and plan to organize free medical checkups during the feast of our Lady of Lourdes, next February 11, which brings many pilgrims to Nyaunglebin, north of Yangon.
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13/02/2021 11:29
