Alumni Myanmar Institutes of Medicine Association (AMIMA) Races Time to Help Cyclone...

Alumni Myanmar Institutes of Medicine Association (AMIMA) Races Time to Help
Cyclone Victims

PHILADELPHIA, May 11 /PRNewswire/ -- As the global community observes the
destructive aftermath of the world's second most deadly cyclone of all time
and the associated mounting frustration over getting humanitarian aid for
cyclone victims, the Alumni Myanmar Institutes of Medicine Association (AMIMA)
has been proactive-and more importantly, successful-in initiating medical care
at the low lying delta area of Myanmar where 100,000 people are assumed dead.
AMIMA has funded the traveling medical team led by Dr. U Hla Myint, a revered
Professor of Medicine and the Chairman of the Myanmar Medical Council (MMC), a
local well-respected non-governmental organization. The mobile medical team
has an existing network of Myanmar physicians throughout the rural, delta
region as well as in remote villages whose access is restricted to native
Burmese. Combined with the fundraising efforts of AMIMA, this emergency
medical team has already made significant strides towards disaster relief
while aid through other organizations continues to experience problems and has
been slow to trickle down.
As Myanmar is a primarily rural and heavily impoverished nation, there is
no water and electricity in many areas; communicable diseases will threaten
the affected population, including typhoid, dysentery, cholera, Dengue
hemorrhagic fever and malaria. The number of deaths are predicted to reach an
epic 1.5 million as the few resources that existed have been decimated.
This established, mobile medical team provides medical care, clean water
and food to prevent infectious diseases and is additionally providing
psychological counseling. Foreseeable needs include: medicines, emergency
health kits and water sanitation supplies. Dr. Kyi Minn, a regional advisor
for World Vision, a global humanitarian organization dedicated to working with
children, families, and their communities assists Professor U Hla Myint's
team. Many physician members of AMIMA from the USA, UK and Asia are already in
Myanmar to assist the mobile medical team.
AMIMA requests financial contributions only and promise 100% delivery.
Unlike other international relief organizations, as native physicians, AMIMA
does not have problems importing into and obtaining medical and other supplies
in the country. We need financial support for our collaborative efforts with
our partners in finding and recruiting personnel, obtaining supplies,
warehouse space and potential routes for transporting equipment and cargo into
the country. Our member Burmese physicians are presently saving lives as
other organizations continue to face the challenges of successfully deploying
aid and resources into the country. The teams of doctors that we are donating
towards have been doing similar trips to affected areas on behalf of Dengue
hemorrhagic fever for a few years and so for them these trips can happen in no
different manner.
We also need funds for the post-disaster programs which include measures
to enhance the capacity of local partners to leave behind a viable
reconstruction plan in place.
Please donate by writing checks paid to AMIMA. In the memo section, please
specify: Cyclone Relief Fund. Please mail these checks to:
AMIMA
P.O BOX 30157
ELKINS PARK, PA
19027-0157

Thank you!
Jennifer Chu, M.D.
President,
Alumni Myanmar Institutes of Medicine (AMIMA)
http://www.amima.net/projects4

SOURCE Alumni Myanmar Institutes of Medicine

Jennifer Chu, M.D., Alumni Myanmar Institutes of Medicine,
+1-215-387-0550(direct), or fax, +1-215-387-0556, jchu@etoims.com