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SICOT e-Newsletter

Issue No. 56 - May 2013

Articles by SICOT Members

The Activities of AMFA (Association Médicale Franco Asiatique) in 2012

Geoffrey Walker
SICOT Emeritus Member - London, United Kingdom

This short summary in English of last year’s annual report is really a tribute to Prof Alain Patel, the Founder and President of AMFA, for his enormous efforts to improve orthopaedic and other medical services in Myanmar. In 2012, in spite of the difficult financial climate, AMFA received donations in cash of EUR 342,983 and of EUR 826,150 as materials, transport, activities of volunteers and support from various other charities. The Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) has always provided considerable support with assistance from Directors, Engineers and Senior Nurses. Experienced technicians use their holidays to train Burmese colleagues how to install and repair equipment.

Another project has been to rebuild, modernise, and equip the old British-built hospital in Myeik and this has been done with the assistance of the Rainbow Bridge Foundation. The facilities for the delivery of babies and the care of children requiring admission have been greatly increased. In addition about 34% of the 150,000 population who inhabit 200 of the 800 Myeik islands are now covered for their basic health needs by staff largely trained and supported by AMFA who have also constructed 14 dispensaries in the islands. All medicines are provided free of charge.

In Mandalay the orthopaedic hospital fully equipped by AMFA (at a cost of EUR 750,000) is running very well with an average of 16 operations being performed each day. A specialist surgical training unit has been established and has resulted in an increase in the volume of cardiac surgery performed. This has been made possible by the help of many visiting specialists who have also been able to train local doctors and other staff. The Albert Schweitzer hospital (in the Netherlands) has sent visiting anaesthetists to teach and to practise modern techniques.

In Yangon two French teams of orthopaedic surgeons and anaesthetists have allowed the surgical correction of scoliosis (supported by Medtronic and International SOS) and several Burmese surgeons are learning the necessary complicated techniques.

Adequate sterility is a problem throughout Myanmar with rats, insects, and humidity everywhere. A unique ‘workshop school’ that had been established a while ago recently required major restoration on account of these problems. Apparently, rats had chewed through some of the electric cables and there were other grave deficiencies. This recent repair work was done with the aid of visiting technicians and other specialists supported by International SOS. Air France provided flights for some of these personnel.

It is obvious that AMFA depends on the service - very largely voluntary - of a great number of individuals and in this short summary I am only going to mention one - apart from Prof Patel. This is Po Po Aung, known as ‘Pole’, who is considered to be the soul of AMFA in Myanmar. She remains in constant touch with the Professor and manages just about everything, including liaison with the Ministry of Health, the financial accounts, shipping of materials and supplies, care of the poor and the general organisation of AMFA’s activities everywhere in Myanmar.

These selected and brief reports are only a small part of AMFA’s activity in Myanmar. They are almost entirely the result of continued stimulation by the very effective and diplomatic techniques used so well by Prof Patel. Of course he has received great assistance by colleagues both from France and from other relatively rich countries as well as by local individuals. He manages to extract support from charities and private donators and from just about everyone that he meets. On 1 April 2013, Professor Patel was further honoured by the French President with promotion to the rank of ‘Commandeur de la lègion d’honneur’.

Copies of the full report (in French) of the 2012 activities of AMFA may be obtained by sending an e-mail to Prof Patel at AMFA headquarters in Paris: amfafrance@netcourrier.com. The relevant website is: amfa-france.org
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