Necessary arrangements to be made in Yangon and Bilin
Arrangement with MSBSC
1.
Our host is MSBSC in Yangon.
2. Need to fax in the following information a month before the actual field trip in June:
a. Date of arrival and departure.
b. Number of participants.
c. Number of meals taken at MSBSC.
d. Number of nights spent at MSBSC.
e. Number of days spent at Bilin.
f.
Tentative June programme and itinerary.
Visit to Institutions of Health, NGOs and Singapore Myanmar Association
1. Visit to Institutes of Medicine and Yangon General Hospital requires special permission.
2. Write in officially to the relevant institutions with the following information:
a. Objectives of visit.
b. Times of visit.
c. Outline of programme.
3. Submission of official June trip programme to MSBSC which will write in for us.
4. NGOs in Myanmar: scheduled talk by Medecins Sans Frontieres Head of Mission in Myanmar can be arranged at MSBSC.
5. Singapore Myanmar Association: Alex's uncle is a committee member, can be easily arranged.
Transporting and delivery of drugs and equipments to Bilin Medical Center
1. Drugs and equipments can be purchased at any of the major pharmacies in Yangon.
2. From Singapore, we can send the collected items by container, estimated cost S$1,200 for a 20 footer.
3. Sending drugs from Singapore requires special approval from the Ministry of Health.
4. We have to write in officially to the Bilin Township Hospital to inform them we are making a donation of drugs and equipments to the Bilin Medical Center.
5. The drugs and equipments will be delivered and stored at the Bilin Township Hospital which will later distribute them to the Bilin Medical Center.
Plans in Bilin
1. Our reconnaissance of Bilin are hampered by the lack of a translator, the closure of the schools for the summer holidays (they will be re-opened in June) and refusal of visit to the Bilin Township Hospital (need to write in officially).
2. Visit to Bilin Township Hospital and meeting with TMO:
a. The Township Medical Officer is in charge of the Bilin Township Hospital and all related health activities in Bilin.
b. A visit in June is warranted to establish a better understanding of the the local healthcare system including its mode of provision and delivery of healthcare and to inform the relevant authorities of our work in Bilin.
c. Again, an official letter needs to be submitted via the MSBSC to the Ministry of Health which will inform the Bilin Township Hospital of our visit.
d. The Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Association and the Myanmar Health Assistant Association are two local NGOs working in Bilin in collaboration with the Bilin Township Hospital.
3. Arrangement with Bilin Village
a. We need to inform the village chairmen of Daukyat or Khemauk village (whom we had met) the length of our stay in Bilin and our activities there. The problem is they do not understand English and they do not have a mailbox. We will have to make all the arrangements through U Tin Aung who lives in Yangon. The alternative is to make the arrangements only upon our arrival in Yangon or Bilin. Either way, there is a possibility we can only finalize our plans at Bilin itself, depending on the prevailing conditions then.
b. Our area of operation will be limited to those we have surveyed, namely, the medical center, Khemauk and Daukyat village which covers an area roughly the size of Ang Mo Kio. It is easy to get lost in Daukyat village with its labyrinth paths and tracks, so it is advisable not to wonder too far off the village hall.
c. Health screening, surveillance and education can be conducted either at the village hall or monastery which offers a large enough place.
d. Security: Bilin is generally safe. The villagers are warm and friendly. It is likely we will be accompanied by soldiers there. There have been reports of bandits stealing the village's harvests in the past.
e. Travel in the village may be a problem in June as the place is flooded.