Improve Health for Mothers and Babies in Myanmar

In the last six months unrest in the Karen region of Myanmar forced many to flee their homes, particularly in Tanintharyi township. As a result five villages in this township and several neighboring ones have been affected. There are now 600,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Karen areas and many are living in tents and having to endure the rain. It is particularly difficult to get hold of good nutritious foods in the rainy season and food insecurity and nutrition issues have a major impact on the health of pregnant woman, nursing mothers and children.

Local midwives, trained under the Maternal Health program are helping mothers to give birth while they are also fleeing to safety. Some health workers have been arrested while the brave workers who have not, keep safe and work discreetly.

This emphasises the importance of maternal health training and providing baby kits.

One community worker commented “Some mothers cannot breastfeed their baby and the alternative of infant milk powders is unavailable. We are trying to provide for those mothers. and children, who are in emergency need of nutrition and baby milk formula.”

Meanwhile, many young women are joining the network to provide more support. These include graduates of Karen Young Women Leadership School and, at district and township level, a workshop for 50 community workers has been teaching them to improve their skills in writing case studies and story guidelines, thinking and creative skills, group management, evaluation and monitoring.

Thank you for your support to these brave women.

There is clear evidence that the health and hygiene of mothers and babies has improved amongst the groups who have received the baby kits and the health training through this program.

For many of the displaced communities there are no shops nearby and so mothers would tear up old sarongs to swaddle their babies. Having soap for washing and soft cloth for swaddling the baby has made so much difference. The women become accustomed to better hygiene and collaborate with other villagers more regularly.

Due to the isolation and restrictions in infrastructure development caused by many years of military rule and conflict, these communities suffer from a lack of communication and education about common health issues. Most Karen knowledge (lore) is beneficial to an individual’s health but there are some harmful traditional practices. This is mostly related to nutrition and the best nutrients for new mothers and their babies.These beliefs are addressed in the training sessions and, as participants see the results of the teaching, we see the positive impact of the program.

The fact that the community workers are visiting them makes an impact in itself. As one mother said: “Even if we received only a piece of cloth and a bar of soap, I feel so happy and I feel like somebody cares for me and is willing to help me, even to go through all the obstacles to get to me. So I felt very encouraged."

Those obstacles are tremendous and we celebrate the bravery and determination of the community workers.

Your support continues to be important for so many people.