Operation Nargis Care:   

Burma Relief Network is coordinating with volunteer physicians and business people in Burma to provide immediate medical care for persons affected by the cyclone. In lieu of large NGOs and organizations, BRN takes advantage of local physicians and nurses through pre-established professional networks to reach those needing immediate medical care. Operating in the delta region outside of Yangon, these local physicians will be sent to different villages in small mobile teams, utilizing their familiarity with the region and tropical medicine to give the most effective medical care and aid.   
 

The greatest obstacle to distributing aid in Burma is the barring of aid workers (both foreign and Burmese) in entering affected regions and the repossession of aid supplies.  This will be bypassed by the fact that the program will be using physicians and healthcare personnel already outside of Yangon.  Mobile teams also possess familiarity and experience in the country and the delta region; these groups will be able to get in and out of the most-affected villages to treat those who most need medical care.  The advantage of familiarity also enables more informed decisions when dealing with medical aid distribution and health care prioritization.   

Field/Mobile Teams:

• Led by experienced local Physicians.
• Equipped with minor surgery, orthopedic supplies, IV fluids and antibiotics.
• Able to see 100 - 150 patients a day.
• Composed of  6-8 members.
• Equipped with all necessities to function in a remote area.
• Managed by experienced physicians and professionals supported by BRN.

Control Center:
Stationed in Rangoon, arrange logistic issues and support for mobile medical team.

Field Operations:

A mobile team of 12 physicians went to Myaung Mya where 22 refugee camps are located. Most of the refugees are from LABUTTA township. The mobile team provided medical care to orphans and 4-5 refugee camps from 29 May 2008 to 13 June 2008.

The team saw 80 -1 50 patients a day and total of 1090 patients during the trip to Myaung Mya.

A mobile medical team of 5 senior physicians, 7 junior physicians and 2 ER / Internal Medicine Specialists from USA went out to BOGALE and LABUTTA townships and villages on 18 June 2008. The team also brought materials and experts for drilling tube wells in delta area.

Stayed in BOGALE on 18 June 2008 night. Rented a cargo boat to go down to disaster area on 19 June 2008. It took 3-4 hours to get to a village called SET SUN. Secured a place to station at a Buddhist monastery.

At noon, 19 June 2008, the medical team went to a village called 'MAE DAW ZU', east of SET SUN and 1 hr 30 mins boat drive to get there. Set up a place at a house and provided medical care to 78 patients. The team came back to SET SUN on that night. See detailed reports of each village.

On 20 June 2008, the medical team went to 2 villages along the same inlet, further than then previous village. It took 2-3 hours to get to another village with the slow boat. Provided medical care to 168 patients at the village called 'PAT PYE' and 118 patients at the village called 'BYU SA KHAN'. The team came back before the low tide in time. See detailed reports on each village visit.

On 21 June 2008, The team went up in the Bogalay River to DAMA THU KHA village. It took 1 hour and provided medical care at the village monastery. The medical team saw 62 patients. Then went to HTAIK CHAUNG village across the river and saw 39 patients on the boat while there was raining heavily. Then came down to SAT KYUN village and saw 34 patients on the damaged monastery premises. After that, the team stopped at NGAE THU village near SAT KYUN and saw 32 patients on the boat. Saved one impending hypovolumic shock patient from that village. the team arrived back to SET SUN village at 5:30 pm. See detailed reports of each village.

On 22 June 2008, the team left SET SUN at 4:20 am to BOGALE by the rental boat and left BOGALE at 9:45 am to LABUTTA by a rental bus. The team arrived LABUTTA at 9:45 pm. The bus can travel only 20-25 miles/hr due to the road condition. See detailed reports of each village.

The team left LABUTTA at 8:00 am by a rental boat to the villages along the path of Nargis Cyclone came in. It arrived PYIN DAUNG QUIN at 11:00 am. There was a small free clinic from Mandalay. The team passed the village and went forward along the inlet. Arrived at LAIK KWIN village and saw 14 patients on the boat. The team went further to KOE BO village (PYIN SA LU township) and arrived at 12:45 pm and saw 18 patients. Then went to OAK KAN GYI village and saw 26 patients on the boat. Those villages were totally destroyed and the survivors came back one by one. Left OAK KAN GYI around 2:00 pm and arrived ZIN YWE GYI village around 2:45 pm. Both ZIN YWE GYI and ZIN YWE KALAY were on the each bank of the large inlet from the YWE river. Both were totally destroyed during the cyclone. The team provided medical care for 64 patients. Newly built houses and reconstruction process were observed along with the remains of blown away houses. The children were de-wormed. See detailed reports of each village.

On 24 June 2008, one mobile team went to SHWE PHONE MYAT monastery in LABUTTA, requested by the head monk for medical care for the survivors from 8 villages west of the town. The was very busy and provided about 300 patients on that day. Another team went east of the YWE river, along the NARGIS path towards HLWA ZAR village on the PYA MA LAW river. The team stopped over at BO GONE village around 9:30 am and provided medical care for 120 patients. Then went further along the small river to HLWA ZAR village. The village was totally destroyed but the survivors have been back in the village and started rebuilding the houses and school for the last 1 week. 70 patients received medical care on the boat. The children were de-wormed. The team arrived back to LABUTTA around 6:00 pm. See detailed reports of each village.

The BRN mobile team left LABUTTA at 8:00 am on 25 June 2008 by the a rental bus and arrived back safely in RANGOON around 5:00 pm.