YANGON, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar appreciated international medics
including those of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for their
participation in the healthcare services for cyclone victims, state media quoted
a government official on Tuesday.
Myanmar Minister of Health Dr. Kyaw Myint said that their visits for
medical purpose have enhanced cooperation between Myanmar and the international
medical circle, state media reported Tuesday.
The New Light of Myanmar said such move also promoted understanding between
Myanmar and the world nations and in the exchange of knowledge and experiences.
Kyaw Myint, who is also member of the National Disaster Preparedness
Central Committee, said this at a workshop of a Myanmar-ASEAN-UN tripartite core
group on medical missions feedback in post-storm relief, response and early
recovery. He said that various domestic healthcare associations, international
non-governmental organizations, private clinics and Myanmar traditional medicine
practitioners have made field trips to storm-hit areas and carried out treatment
for survivors.
In the post-Nargis period, dozens of foreign medics were allowed in Myanmar
to render medical services to the cyclone victims. These medics include those
from Thailand, India, Laos, China, Bangladesh, Singapore, the Philippines,
France, Japan, Indonesia and South Korea.
These groups have respectively served in such disaster-hit townships as
Laputta, Myaungmya, Bogalay, Phyapon, Kyauktan, Kungyangon and Maubin. Of them,
the Chinese's and the Thai's have completed their missions in Myanmar.
Meanwhile, state media reported no outbreak of other contagious and
epidemic diseases in the storm-hit areas, saying that a total of 206,039 storm
patients had received medical treatment during a month after the cyclone storm
hit the country early last month.
Deadly tropical cyclone Nargis, which occurred over the Bay of Bengal, hit
five divisions and states -- Ayeyawaddy, Yangon, Bago,Mon and Kayin on May 2 and
3, of which Ayeyawaddy and Yangon inflicted the heaviest casualties and massive
infrastructural damage. The storm has killed 77,738 people and left 55,917
missing and 19,359 injured according to official death
toll.