Jo, Myanmar (Burma) - Leaving for my mission as a Health Advisor

I’m very excited... a new country and a new challenge.

My visa for Myanmar (Burma) has finally arrived and I leave next week for Yangon and my three month mission in the Irrawaddy Delta region.

Since the devastating Cyclone Nargis in 2008, Doctors of the World have been maintaining a programme aimed at strengthening the Community-based health services  in Pyapon Township. (A township is the equivalent of a county in England.)

Much of my role as Health Advisor will be about capacity building. The health needs of the population have increased as a result of the cyclone.  At the same time the health services have suffered a reduced capacity to meet those needs, due to the destruction of many health facilities and the deaths of many health workers.

I will be involved in monitoring the strategies used to prevent illness, as well as working on health promotion programmes, training a team of trainers, as well as reviewing and developing health service standards,  guidelines and training programmes.

My mission is specifically planned for this time of year, (monsoon season)  to ensure that the rivers are full and make it easier to travel around my area by boat.

I’m very excited, a new country and a new challenge!  I will keep in touch on this blog.