Qatar Red Crescent (QRCS) has said it is going on with its humanitarian intervention in Myanmar, with a series of health projects for 5,000 families (25,000 people) at a total cost of $485,513.
As a transition from relief to development, the programme involves rehabilitation of health infrastructure, provision of medical care through mobile clinics, and capacity building for local medics.
These projects are co-ordinated with Myanmar Red Cross Society and the Health Department in Rakhine State.
QRCS’s mobile clinic teams regularly provide primary healthcare for the beneficiaries in 14 villages and one internally displaced persons’ camp.
According to the monthly reports, 2,389 patients were treated, including 1,905 adults and 484 children.
The treated cases included antenatal care, mild diarrhoea, dysentery, common cold, chest infection, skin infection, eye infection, trauma /injury, asthma, hypertension, diabetes, gastritis, urinary tract, among other problems. Confirmed malaria and dengue haemorrhagic fever were also found.
Mobile clinic teams participated in the routine immunisation programme of the State Health Department in two villages and one camp, because the immunisation coverage in these areas is low.
To contribute to the promotion of IDP/villager health access, mobile clinic teams also deliver emergency and specialist referral of patients in villages/camp to higher medical services.
Last month, 18 patients received referral for emergency/special care. After being discharged from hospital, the teams follow up with the patients as needed.
QRCS’s officials meet regularly with the campers and villagers and inspect the mobile clinic team activities and services.
Another project is the training of community health workers and exchange of experience. The programmes will adopt the curriculum used by the State Health Department with minor adjustments to be in line with the specific needs of the project.