Join the Myanmar Mission

Myanmar, formally known as Burma, is one of the largest and poorest countries in Southeast Asia.  In fact, it is one of the 20th poorest countries in the world.  Located between Thailand, China and India, the country has seen more than its fair share of wars and colonization by foreign countries.  As reported by a recent diplomacy team, visiting Burma is likegoing back in time.  Its people, cultures and architectures have remained largely untouched for many decades.  It is quite different from all other Southeast Asian countries.  Recently opening up to the western world, Myanmar needs lots of help to develop and expand its health care system.  The magnitidude of this need is quite formidable as Myanmar spends the smallest percentage of GDP on health care of any other country, while receiving little assistance from the outside world.  

     

WHA has been approved by the Myanmar government to send in a survey team from March 25-31, 2013.  The team's objectives are to learn more about Myanmar's health care needs, to evaluate potential clinical sites for future missions and to establish working relationships with their regional teaching hospitals. Upon the team's return, WHA will set the dates for a two week medical and dental mission to Myanmar for some time later this year.  The Myanmar medical and dental mission will be made up of general practitioners, medical specialists, general surgeons, anesthesiologist, dentists, dental assistants, pharmacists, nurses and non-health care support staff.  If you are interested in being part of this historic team heading to Myanmar in the late fall,  please contact WHA at info@whausa.org or visit us at www.whausa.org.

Ha Tam Orphanage, Phan Thiet, Vietnam                              October, 2013

WHA program is also preparing for a joint medical and dental mission to Phan Thiet wih the orphanage provider, Big Big World (BBW), based in Virginia.  BBW has been sponsoring a small orphanage in Phan Thiet with educational funds and other finacial and logistic support.  WHA will visit the orphanage in October (tentatively on the weekend of October 12th to 13th) along with BBW members to provide medical and dental care.  This is our first joint project together and our team members are looking forward to working with BBW members to make this a successful mission.

Fundraising Update

On December 1, 2012, WHA was invited by Dr. Huong Le Nguyen and Dr. Minh Nguyen of 1960 Family Practice to give a presentation to a 200 physicians holiday get together and fundraising function in Houston, Texas. WHA introduced its program to the Houston medical community while recruiting new members. We would like to thank Drs. Nguyen for this very special opportunity and their help to raise awareness and support for WHA program. 

 

 

Gastroenterology Program in Vietnam

The GI team is steadily moving forward in Vietnam and has just returned from a November trip. The team is still collecting donated medical text books and teaching CD/DVD to help refurbish the Can Tho School of Health Sciences Medical Library and facilitate our ongoing teaching program. WHA continues to recruit GI specialist and GI nurses for one week teaching rotations at the Can Tho School of Health Sciences in Vietnam.