By Thailand Office | Members of the Thailand office
Executive Summary & Monthly Impact
Since April 2026, the Doctor Deployment Project has been actively addressing critical healthcare shortages at the Mae La Refugee Camp along the Thai-Myanmar border. Operating within the camp’s central hospital, our team delivers comprehensive essential care—including general medicine, pediatrics, cardiovascular/hypertension care, fever and malaria treatment, dental services, mental health support, and maternal and child health (MCH) checks.
During June alone, the medical team—comprising three dedicated physicians, including Dr. Kaung Zan Oo, alongside local healthcare staff—managed a substantial volume of patient care under demanding conditions.
Responding to the Dengue Surge Through Field Innovation
June marked the onset of the heavy rainy season in Thailand, triggering a rapid spike in mosquito-borne Dengue fever cases within the camp. Confirmed infections escalated drastically from 9 cases in May to 70 cases in June, placing immense pressure on hospital operations.
Overcoming Resource Limitations
The hospital operates under stringent resource constraints, lacking automated blood counters, sufficient diagnostic test kits, and electronic infusion pumps to automatically regulate intravenous fluids.
Adaptive Clinical Practice
In treating Dengue fever and young children, precise fluid administration is life-critical; over-infusion risks fluid accumulation in the heart and lungs. Lacking automated equipment, the nursing team manually calculates fluid drop-rates and conducts hourly bedside inspections around the clock.
Through meticulous manual monitoring, precise fluid regulation, and timely emergency transfers to referral hospitals when necessary, the medical team achieved zero Dengue-related fatalities throughout the June surge.
Emergency Teamwork: A Mother’s Life Saved
Late one afternoon, a 40-year-old single mother of two children (a 7-year-old daughter and a novice monk son) was rushed to the emergency ward after suffering sudden seizures and losing consciousness.
By the following morning, the patient made a remarkable recovery. Smiling from her bed, she instructed her visiting son: "The doctor saved my life, so make sure you express your gratitude to him."
Reflecting on the case, Dr. Kaung Zan Oo noted that seeing her full recovery in a resource-limited setting made the team’s tireless efforts deeply rewarding.
A Message of Gratitude from Dr. Kaung Zan Oo
"Thanks to your generous support, we are able to deliver vital medical care to vulnerable families living in these harsh conditions. Before my arrival, our local medical team was pushed beyond its limits—frequently forced to turn patients away due to severe shortages of time and manpower.
Having an additional physician on-site has significantly reduced waiting times, allowed for thorough and compassionate consultations, and enabled 24/7 emergency care. On behalf of all the patients we serve, I express my deepest gratitude for your continued support."
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