Myanmar (MNN) ― Myanmar has booted a team of medics, citing no need for their services. Aid agencies have warned of the threat of an outbreak of disease that could decimate Nargis survivors.
That concern has increased as the government has closed refugee camps and ordered people back to their villages. As more people return to rebuild their shattered lives, aid workers are trying to implement village-level systems that can offer rudimentary care and stave off the potential for epidemic outbreaks.
Such a shift in the rebuilding of the medical infrastructure means villagers will have to rely more heavily on mobile clinics and local workers.
International Aid's Milton Amayun says, "We have shipped six clinics to a partner that works within Myanmar, especially in the disaster area. They also work with displaced people along the Thai border."
The mobile clinics contain everything you would find in a doctor's office. It is a good start because the basics are there, although in finite supply. Getting replacement supplies will be tricky. Amayun says the issue is complicated by communications isolation. "We don't have internet in Myanmar. Cell phones are confiscated before you go into the disaster areas."
As needs are assessed, it takes time to go to neighboring Thailand, make the supply lists and get things processed, ordered and shipped. Meanwhile, the people wait. It has been six weeks since the storm flattened villages and flooded croplands.
However, in that time, local believers mobilized with funds bought supplies and were able to offer assistance. Their action helped prevent further death and sickness.
Amayun says prayer is essential, as well as funds. Both help outreach. "It is not only a matter of a political battle. It's also a spiritual one. The Christians inside Myanmar have been mobilized. They have reached out to their own people. When they see you expend your help, even if you are not really openly sharing the Gospel, it makes them think. When the opportune time comes, the Holy Spirit opens doors for them to have conversations about the love of Christ."
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