Pictured: Group of Myanmar teenagers
In July 2023, a delegation of Burnet staff members from our Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Myanmar offices visited Burnet in Melbourne. This provided a rare opportunity for our supporters to hear directly about specific health challenges faced in each country, updates on Burnet in-country programs made possible by your support, and future plans.
Dr Kudakwashe Chani, Burnet Institute’s PNG Country Director, reported that maternal, child and adolescent morbidity and mortality in PNG, whilst still dangerously high, is in fact declining. This is a fantastic testament to the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies (HMHB) program our donors have supported for many years, along with other programs across PNG.
He said that HMHB had gained significant knowledge and evidence about the causes of poor maternal and child health, identified gaps in health care and designed new strategies to improve health care access and coverage. There is a long way to go, but it is incredible to hear about some of the key achievements that have been made thanks to donor support.
Dr Phone Myint Win, Burnet Institute’s Myanmar Country Representative, shared details of programs being run in monastic schools throughout Myanmar, including Healthy Mind, Healthy Future which aims to improve adolescent mental health, as well as sexual and reproductive health.
He also highlighted the specific challenges in Myanmar, including a fragile public health system, supply shortage, and public distrust of leadership following the coup in 2021.
This was our first in-person donor event since COVID-19 hit, and it was fantastic to see people on-site in the Burnet offices again.
