Myanmar is facing major political, economic and social upheaval following the end of the military dictatorship. However, the continuing catastrophic situation of healthcare has hardly been recognised. The training and further education of doctors is of central importance for improving healthcare in Myanmar, as more and better trained doctors are urgently needed. Mr Zaw Zen Let, born on 23 June 1992 in Mogaung Township, Kachin State, Myanmar, was sponsored by the Bettina Kattermann Foundation for a Master's degree in Public Health at Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand, as part of the KAAD-sponsored scholarship programme.
Zaw Zen Let reports:
On 23 June 2016, I graduated from Mahidol University with a Master of Public Health degree. Shortly afterwards, I returned to my home country of Myanmar and took a short break with my family, who live in the countryside. In August 2016, I started working for World Vision Myanmar as a Health Knowledge Management and Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist.
I have now been working for World Vision Myanmar for seven months. The title of the project I am currently working on is ENRICH. These six letters stand for "Enhancing Nutrition Services to Enrich Maternal and Child Health in Africa and Asia". ENRICH is only being implemented in selected regions of Tanzania, Kenya, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Myanmar with the aim of improving the health and nutritional situation of mothers, newborns and children.
In Myanmar, World Vision is working in Thaboung Township, Ayeyarwadi Region. My office is at the World Vision Myanmar headquarters, which is located in Yangon. If necessary, I travel to the project area and other villages located in Thaboung Township. I also have to visit some remote and hard-to-reach areas. Due to the geographical location of these places, I have to travel by boat.
I am very satisfied with my work for ENRICH as it is my wish to work for people whose communities lack medical care. I would like to thank KAAD and the Bettina Kattermann Foundation for the scholarship.
