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Day 1

Our journey starts at Frankfurt airport, where all the participants of the project meet at the check-in counter. Countless transportation cases full of medications, tools for surgery and gifts for the children. Every year, we hope that the additional costs because of the luggage’s weight are as low as possible. After settling all the organizational matters, we are finally allowed to enter the plane. 12 hours later our destination is in sight already. The plain just landed at Mandalay airport, which is the second largest city in Myanmar (1,6 million citizens). Like last year, the monks of the monastery hospital kindly pick us up. Fortunately the gifts for our patients got through the customs without any complications, so wen can find our accommodation directly, while the monks take care of the medical supplies’ safe arrival at Sitagu Ayudana Hospital.

Day 2

The next day, we make our way to the hospital, where we will receive the patients, to prepare everything for a smooth running. This includes setting up our inventory, sorting the medication, preparing the surgical tables and checking all technical equipment. Luckily, we didn’t forget anything at home, procuring important supply on site is nearly impossible. Senior physician Dr. Khin Maung Zaw welcomes us officially and informs everyone about the latest developments, which is, for example, the infrastructure’s significant improvement since our first mission in 2009. We want to be prepared for all the surgeries the next day, so all selected patients are being examined now. Again, most patients suffer from cleft lip and palate. They all came a long way, even on foot, to get the chance to receive medical help.

Many hopeful mothers and fathers introduce us to their children, we all record pathological findings and focus in particular on children with cases of high fever, anemia or cardiac problems. These kind of troublesome patients need a second examination, all the others are ready for surgery. We can now schedule the surgical treatments for the next three days.

Day 3

We get up at 6.00 in the morning and prepare for the day, fighting jetlag and weariness. Nonetheless, everyone is looking forward to helping the first few children. The anaesthetists are the first ones to leave for work, they have to prepare the first four patients for surgery. We plan to perform 20 surgeries in total this day, more than half of them are treatment of a cleft lip.

Our very first patient is two-years old Phyu Phyu Nu, who already received surgery from us in the last year. Since her wounds healed well, we can now complete the medical intervention by fully closing her cleft lip. Phyu and all other patients weather their surgery without any complications. After 12 hours of work, the last parents can hold their exhausted child in their arms again. A very successful day!

Day 4

Day 4 starts with a feeling of time travel. A driver picks us up with his van, looking like it came straight from the 70s. Worn off seats and old nostalgic charm, at least the air conditioning is working. An hour of driving on the rural streets, seeing the river Irawadi and dozen people visiting it and engaging in their early-morning exercise. Mothers who escort their children to school and chaos on the roads in the city, farming villages, children who play with sticks and stones and some cooking on open fireplaces at the countryside. Finally we arrive at the hilly landscape of Sagaing, where Sitagu Ayudana Hospital, our final destination, is located. Sagaing is one of Myanmar’s important Buddhist centers. Now we can start our work for today at last.

Day 5

Some of our project members are visiting an orphanage today. The monks, who run the orphanage welcome them and show them around. Despite having very few means, they successfully attempt to create a warm and caring environment. This is where our donations (gifts, medicine and money) will give great pleasure.

We got a lot to do today, 22 patients are scheduled. 33-years old San Min Htwe depicts a special challenge. His arm suffers from severe scarring because of a badly treated burn in his childhood. He can’t move it properly anymore, so our surgeons have to remove the whole scarring from his upper arm to his thumb. In place of the scars, they graft a part of healthy skin (from the patient’s thigh) to the damaged area. Now San Min is able to move his arm properly for the fist time in 30 years. We are very grateful for the local surgical nurses, who have been assisting us since our very first mission. Even if not everyone speaks English, we are able to communicate, even if it’s just a smile or a kind gesture.

Day 6

We expect a grand visitor today, the supreme monk of Sagaing, known as Sitagu Sayadaw, grants us an audience. He enjoys great respect and appreciation, The patients, as well as the staff worship him, so we are proud to be allowed to meet him. At noon, he shows up, expresses his personal gratitude and invites us to listen to his private lecture about Buddhism at the Sitagu Buddhist Academy this evening.

Day 7

The last day of our mission is one of the most exhausting as well. We want to help as many children as possible, but in the afternoon we finish the last surgery and start preparing our departure. Everything but the technical supply and the surgery tools is being donated to the hospital. We can now do our last round, giving advice concerning wound healing to the staff and relatives of the patients. Of course, we also take some time to snap some pictures with the staff and the thankful treated patients. We always get a lot of handmade gifts from the relatives, which we appreciate a lot. 120 successful surgeries! The ones who didn’t get their chance this time, will wait for our return next year. Visiting this unique country and cooperating with all these amazing people will always be something special.

Medical Intervention Team

The Medical Intervention Team is a non-profit association, registered at the local court of Frankfurt am Main. Our association is funded by donations only. The participating doctors, nurses and medical students are working on a voluntary basis. Our guiding theme is: Humanism, Empathy and Responsibility. By donating, you are supporting our work.

Address

Medical Intervention Team e.V.
c/o HNO-Praxis am Goetheplatz
Rossmarkt 23
60311 Frankfurt am Main
Germany

Phone

+49 (0) 69 - 26 49 50 150

Email

info@mit-ev.org

Donation account

Medical Intervention Team e.V.
Deutsche Bank
IBAN: DE05 5007 0024 0016 7999 00
BIC: DEUTDEDBFRA