Snapshots from the Field
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Our Executive Officer, Ary Laufer, recently visited Myanmar for cyclone Nargis' one year anniversary memorials…
Greetings from Yangon, Myanmar.
I have just returned from two days in the villages in the Irrawaddy Delta Area, where yesterday to the exact lunar date last year, Cyclone Nargis devastated a huge part of Myanmar and killed and injured thousands of people.
I am extremely proud of the work that the Marie Stopes International (MSI) team have done in Myanmar, with the majority of funding from AusAID, but also matched by The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, MSI SCALE Fund and Direct Relief International.
In a village of 7,000 people, that took three hours by car and then two hours by sampan boat, Marie Stopes International Myanmar (MSIM) is one of the few agencies that have had impact. Housing still remains unrepaired, potable water still problematic, food is minimal, basic services still do not exist – but MSIM is providing outreach in family planning, reproductive health and basic medical assistance.
In a day to remember the dead for most villagers, MSIM scheduled a four hour outreach period - over 50 women still turned out for injectables alone, all of which were provided in a Buddhist Monastery Seminary. With only a curtain for privacy, the women were just happy for the fact that we were there. The number of short term methods of contraception distributed, counselling and education was huge. The large number of safe birthing kits distributed to pregnant women was also very impressive.
I met one 39 year old mother of seven, who was extremely happy for the IUD that MSIM provided. It is obvious that life goes on and people continue to have sex and have children. By providing essential family planning services we are providing a choice – a choice necessary more than ever as people economically, environmentally and socially need to rebuild their lives and plan the number of children they have.
Over the two days in the Delta I visited many villages where MSIM’s outreach service is the only source of assistance they are receiving. The devastation, the poor living conditions and near homelessness is widespread. In one area we provided 90 injectables, only to be asked to come back a few weeks later to do another 70 IUD’s. The rate of reconstruction is obviously slow, and limited, yet MSI Myanmar have had huge impact and this has been recognised. It is the genuine warmth shown by the wide number women of Myanmar for the critical services we have provided which shows the real impact post-Cyclone Nargis – their connection to MSI and our team there.
Regards,
Ary Laufer
Read previous snapshots here