2008 year Press Release
Tropical storm Nargis hit Burma on May 3, 2008, injuring countless victims and killing numerous others. TaiwanIHA, Ling Jiou Mountain Buddhist Society and International Headquarters S.A.R. flew to the affected areas to provide medical assistance on May 23.TaiwanIHA Medical Assistance in Burma
The TaiwanIHA medical team was comprised of M.D. Chang Yi-jia from the Surgery Department of Taoyuan General Hospital under the Ministry of Health and Welfare; M.D. Chen Ru-hsin from the Center for Disease Controls Department of Epidemic Prevention; M.D. Chuang Jia-chang from National Cheng Kung University Hospitals Emergency Department, Supervisor Shu Pei-jin of Taipei Hospitals Department of Nursing, R.N. Yu Shen-ping of Keelung Hospital and R.N. Chiou Zi-shan of TaiwanIHA, masters of Ling Jiou Mountain Buddhist Society and members of the International Headquarters S.A.R. Taiwan arrived in Yangon early morning on May 23.
TaiwanIHA focused its efforts on the Kung Yan Gan area of Yangon district. With the assistance of local monks and masters of Ling Jiou Mountain Buddhist Society, the medical team safely reached the villages in need of assistance. Local residents told the team that people and livestock stranded on two sand bars near the estuary were swept away by the storm. The air where medical members stayed was stifling and reeked of decaying bodies. Members did their best in such conditions to treat patients with help of interpreters. As news spread of the teams arrival, the number of residents seeking aid increased. The main medical conditions encountered by the team were external injuries, upper respiratory tract infections, intestinal infections and post-traumatic stress disorders. Despite limited medical supplies and poor working conditions, M.D. Chang still was able to conduct minor surgery on a patients foot. After any flood, skin aliments are the second most common problems encountered after dysentery and related diseases. In addition to the refugees, dozens of young Buddhist novices sought medical care from TaiwanIHA to treat fungus infections.
The TaiwanIHA medical team returned to Taiwan on June 1, after helping 1500 people in 16 villages of the Yangon, Kung Yan Gan and Ayeyarwaddy districts of Burma over a period of 10 days. By the time the team departed, the villages had started reconstruction. Since the houses were built simply with palm leaves and bamboo, reconstruction progressed faster than expected. Due to large number of casualties, what local residents needed most was to finish burying the dead and obtain mental health care.
During the visit, each team member did their utmost to treat the patients with medication and provide health education and mental health assistance. Masters of Ling Jiou Mountain were responsible for communicating and coordinating with local masters. With their help, medical members were more easily able to enter the affected areas. In addition, International Headquarters S.A.R. Taiwan was in charge of the teams safety and the equipments transportation. Everyone worked hand in hand for the refugees sake, thereby showing their desire to cooperate and concern.
During the visit, each team member did their utmost to treat the patients with medication and provide health education and mental health assistance. Masters of Ling Jiou Mountain were responsible for communicating and coordinating with local masters. With their help, medical members were more easily able to enter the affected areas. In addition, International Headquarters S.A.R. Taiwan was in charge of the teams safety and the equipments transportation. Everyone worked hand in hand for the refugees sake, thereby showing their desire to cooperate and concern.
TaiwanIHA successfully integrated the resources and strengths of the public and private sectors, allowing them to operate more effectively than by working individually. In the future, TaiwanIHA will continue to work with Taiwans NGOs and those abroad and to coordinate medical and health assistance resources to provide emergency humanitarian assistance. It will further demonstrate Taiwans compassion and desire to give back to the international community.
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