Wah was 26 years old and she sought treatment for a large mass in her pelvic region. She had actually travelled to the Mae Tao Clinic to accompany her mother who had failing health (and who sadly passed away soon after arriving). Since she was at the Clinic anyway, Wah decided to have the mass looked at. She’s now successfully undergone treatment for her condition and is no longer in any pain. Continue reading
Aung is a 34 year-old man who suffered severe burns all over his body during an acid attack. He received treatment in Burma immediately after the attack, but when he could no longer afford treatment, he came to the Mae Tao Clinic in Thailand. Aung only attended school through the third grade and currently earns about 10,000 kyat (US$10) per month working as a security guard at the market at night and 2, 000 kyat loading and unloading trucks during the day. His wife stays at home taking care of their three daughters and looking after the house. Their two oldest daughters are in school, but their youngest daughter is only a year old and is still at home. Before the accident, Aung said that his income from the two jobs covered basic expenses, but was not always enough to make ends meet. Sometimes they had to ask their parents for additional financial support. Continue reading
Mya Sandor was 6 years old and one of seven children when she first arrived at the Mae Tao Clinic. Her brother had carried her to the clinic on his back as she was unable to walk. Initially it was thought that Mya Sandor was suffering from complications due to a bout of cerebral malaria. BCMF took her to Chiang Mai for further investigations which revealed that she had a brain tumour. With the help of BCMF, Mya Sandor battled against the tumour with her mother by her side. This is her story… Continue reading
JUST LAUNCHED: VIDEO ABOUT THE WORK OF BCMF!
BCMF is delighted to launch our new video today – Burma Children Medical Fund – Operating to Give Kids a Chance.
Produced by the Karen News team, it gives an insight to our work here at BCMF and also highlights the inspiring journeys of some of our patients.
BCMF is launching our 2012 Annual Report this week, and as we reflect on 2012 and the highlights and challenges that were, we also now look to 2013 and the challenges and achievements that the year has already brought, as well as the rest of the year ahead.
In 2012, the number of patients treated was a major highlight for BCMF, and we were delighted to see the completion of treatment for two of our long-time patients Saw Pwel (pictured below) and Naut Naut (whose stories are highlighted in the report). Continue reading
Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF) is looking for a short-term volunteer to help conduct patient interviews onsite at the Mae Tao Clinic. We are interested in someone who can be available for a few hours each day to conduct intake interviews with new patients as well as post-op interviews with existing patients. All interviews are conducted onsite at Mae Tao Clinic with the assistance of a translator.
Hser is a 1-year-11-month-old boy with a large mass on the right side of his face and neck. His family lives in Hteet Moo Hta village in Myawaddy district. His parents were rice farmers but make their living as day labourers. His mother currently does not work as she is busy caring for him and his younger sister.
Hser’s family has been affected by the military conflict in Burma. For the past three years, his mother reports, the DKBA has come to their village and burned everyone’s rice crop stores. The DKBA did this as punishment. The DKBA claimed that the village was unfairly paying tribute to the KNU and SPDC while not paying anything to the DKBA. As a result of the hardship induced by having their entire crop burned and having to pay money to the various armies, about 35 families in the village, including Hser’s, had to move to a neighbouring village. Continue reading
Dear Friends, 
Here is BCMF’s Three Month Summary for the period July to September 2012. In this past quarter, BCMF has seen a total of 35 new patients, averaging more than 10 per month.
Additionally, BCMF has had a total of 316 follow-up visits from existing patients this quarter. Download our most recent report to read more about our third quarter, get to know some of our newest patients and find out how you can help!
La is an 8-year-old boy suffering from a blood condition. Specifically his blood has a low platelet count (he could be suffering from a condition known as thalassaemia). He is currently in Chiang Mai undergoing treatment. He and his father were transferred directly from a small district hospital on the Thai-Burma border to Chiang Mai. The hospital contacted BCMF to refer La onto our program to ensure his medical costs were covered.
Continue reading
On 16 June 2012, Aung San Suu Kyi will receive the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to her in 1991.Here’s a video link to watch the ceremony live at 1pm Oslo time (9pm Eastern Standard Time; 6pm in Thailand).
“In my own country, hostilities have not ceased in the far north; to the west, communal violence resulting in arson and murder were taking place just several days before I started out on the journey that has brought me here today. News of atrocities in other reaches of the earth abound. Reports of hunger, disease, displacement, joblessness, poverty, injustice, discrimination, prejudice, bigotry; these are our daily fare. Everywhere there are negative forces eating away at the foundations of peace. Everywhere can be found thoughtless dissipation of material and human resources that are necessary for the conservation of harmony and happiness in our world.” Aung San Suu Kyi
“Few have done more than you have to make the world a better place for all of us. We thank you for your fearlessness, your tenacity and your strength, and we wish you the best of luck with the important work ahead of you.” Thorbjørn Jagland