Sunday, 4 January 2015

8.. Sittway Clinic and farewell



Sunday January 4th.

We set up in the clinic in Monastery the night before -  almost 400 people were waiting








We started early for the busy day ahead.


We had ample supplies of antibiotics, blood pressure meds and diabetes. But had to obtain further supply of pain killers and vitamins from a local pharmacy.
Carrying in suitcases was the easiest way to get the stock from location to location.

Patient details were first written up, followed by Blood pressure and blood glucose checks. Then the patients were allocated to a doctor for consulataion. Many volunteers helped with the translations.

Fitting a prosthetic hand
It was reported that the clinic had seen 1,800 patients that day.
The pharmacy when all day














Kathryn and Karen talking to a local Monk.
The great staff who made the job look easy.
And some photos of the wrap:
A thorn amongst the roses. Their help was outstanding!

U toe, myself and Mr Myo Thant.(engineering student)
Back at our hotel 
The next day we donated the remaining drugs to the local doctor/hospital



 Then travelled back to Yangon by air:
Last goodbyes at Sittwee airport
A sincere thanks and goodbye from the monk Uzin Blue!
The video below was made by Uzin Blue's team at the mission and is from their website


Friday, 2 January 2015

7. Further up the Lay Mro River. - Chin Tattooed Women villages.

Later we departed Goon Kyun village and went further upriver


Back in our boats and up the river















The Monk Uzin Blue (who made so much of the mission work possible)  - looking for some photographic opportunities with
 his amazing camera gear.

The older women work collecting river stones and sell it as road base.
This must rank as one of the top 10 worst jobs ever.

A legend said that the Myanmar King from the central land explored their State as Chin women are the most beautiful among other minorities. So Chin girls not later than age of 13 had to tattoo on their faces to make them ugly and to prevent from being taken to the Myanmar palace. As tattooing habits are stopped, you can see mostly elderly women with tattoo nowadays.



We posed with the tattooed ladies
PDG Karl Dykeman (CA) hands out dental hygiene kits to the children

With the local law enforcement officer


I was also privileged to meet John (Kui Lwin)an aid worker from Chin state who is determined to improve education and tourism in his home state. He is planning to initially build a student boarding and teachers centre and is trying to raise money and supervise the construction

This is a group of houses that dig up river-stones for road base and taken them down river to a collecting point.














6. Chin Villages along Lay Mro River and Goon Kyun village


Friday January  2 , 2015

Having packed up all the mission equipment and supplies last night; the entire group visited some amazing villages where projects were being undertaken.

Down the riverbank of the Lay Myo River to our boats



All aboard



Underway
Arriving at the village of Goon Kyun the children welcomed us ....




A beautiful welcome












At the village, a dedication ceremony then the school children received toothbrush and toothpaste kits (the Rotary Kenya smiles program).
Children with their teacher
Dedication ceremony in the temple
The school solar light and other project donations dedication ceremony

Monk Uzin Blue and Taiwan Rotarian Uen-Hua Chao (Air Con) holding the battery charger case of the school solar lighting project. Air Con is the instigator of this wonderful program
LED lights ( Made in Taiwan )













Battery pack case

The Children were excited to receive a toothbrush & toothpaste kit










Happy smiles
High Five