A new INGO to provide health services for people in Myanmar.

Medical Action Myanmar (MAM) is a new international medical aid organization whose mission is to improve the health of the poorest people within Myanmar. It’s principal goals are to provide basic medical treatment and prevent the spread of infectious diseases. The motivation for the creation of this new NGO is the unmet health needs in Myanmar.

The driving force behind MAM is Dr Frank Smithius, former director of MSF and a long-term veteran in health activities in Myanmar together with three former colleagues Dr Khin Zarli Aye, Dr Ni Ni Tun and Renee Mous. In addition, a number of health professionals who have been involved in health activities in Myanmar are supporting MAM including Professor Nick White (Oxford and Mahidol University), Dr Alex Winkler (former director of MSF) Holland, currently director of Doctors for Children and Guy Stallworthy (former directore PSI Myanmar, currently working with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation).

Why Medical Action Myanmar?
Myanmar’s health system is under-funded. National investment is insufficient and the international community provides very little support. Myanmar citizens receive the lowest amount of development aid (ODA) of all ‘least developed countries’ i.e. 3 USD per person per year compared to 38 USD in CAmbodia and 50 USD in Laos, both countries with higher gross national income (GNI). There are very few medical aid organisations in Myanmar and most operate on a pitiful small scale (therefore being very cost-ineffective.) People in Myanmar have to pay for the health services themselves and most cannot afford to do so. As a result, tens of thousands of people, mostly children die each year of diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, HIV, respiratory tract infections and other simple and treatable diseases.