MACF “Barefoot Doctor Program” goals

1. improved health by nutrition, education and training of village people of Myanmar.

MACF Members improved health, nutrition, training and education of the village people of Myanmar. This improvement has been brought about by the work of MACF Members, not only the doctors, nurses and physiotherapists. it has evolved in a marked improvement in the standard of care, and in the health of the Myanmar people in those hospitals and villages where MACF has worked.

2. Decreased mortality and morbidity of mothers following childbirth. increasedawareness of childbirth problems and training, educating and development of local personnel in basic procedures to assist with pregnancy, childbirth and aftercare of babies.

MACF Member, Dr Joyce Conolly delivers crucial support to help reduce the high morbidity and mortality rates associated with childbirth in Myanmar.

3. improved mental health of the people

in many of the villages, MACF Members taught the doctors and senior nurses about depression, its diagnosis and treatment. The thirst for knowledge about this subject is very great, as until recently it was not recognised as an illness in Myanmar.

MACF donated to each of the Magway hospitals, Yangon General Hospital and Kwekabaw Hospital, the excellent book in mental health, A Primer of Clinical Psychiatry, by David Castle and D Bafftand. The staff at the hospitals have benefited greatly from this book, enabling them to improve their diagnosis and treatment of depression.

4. improved health and nutrition of children under 5 years

in Myanmar, a nation rich in natural resources, it is tragic that child mortality rates in rural Myanmar are so high; improving this is a particular area of focus for MACF Members.

5. Training and educating of compassionate community healthcare leaders (mostly women) in villages.

Their training is chosen appropriate to the needs of the community and the poverty of the area. This can vary from the importance of basic hygiene to the management of diahhrea and childbirth.

Dr Joyce Conolly lectures on basic healthcare, in remote village, as part of MACF’s “Barefoot Doctor” program