FBR Medics
Earth Mission helps empower about 50 Free Burma Ranger medics working inside the conflict zones of Burma. Last year these medics treated more than 22,000 patients. None of these patients called in for an appointment or got dropped off at an office. No one filled their prescription at a pharmacy. Each of these 22,000 patient interactions represents the work of a young medic who has walked for days over difficult terrain often at great personal risk. Every medicine dispensed speaks of the effort of a whole team of people. Earth Mission helps with advising, training, supplying, equipping and directing these medics.
Developing an accurate understanding of the unique health needs of a target population is crucial for any healthcare program. Compared to the numerous and in-depth studies defining health problems in neighboring countries, in Burma there are relatively few studies about health and disease in the conflict zones. Therefore, we are constantly striving to improve this data collection process while simultaneously using it to refine training, medicines, supplies and treatment guidelines.
Medics often start with a high school level of education or less. Beginning Karen medics now have a year-long clinically based training program inside Karen State. Initially, western trained medical professionals are supporting this training but teaching and administrative duties are being turned over to local staff. The goal of this training is that beginning medics are well prepared to provide simple but quality healthcare for common problems encountered in the jungle with limited resources. For experienced medics, FBR doctors, nurses and senior medics conduct regular month long reviews. In addition to attending traditional lectures, medics in this training mode are encouraged to share case studies with colleagues in order to generate discussion and share experiences.
Earth Mission helps supply and equip medics to be able to provide quality healthcare to internally displaced people in Burma. Furthermore, being involved from the beginning of the training to the actual healthcare given by FBR medics in the field, to tertiary care outside of the country gives Earth Mission a uniquely effective role in a extremely difficult environment. Our prayer and hope is that we can continue to improve and expand healthcare to all peoples affected by the oppression and violence inside Burma.
Each FBR team takes a medicine unit consisting of medicines, IVs, and bandages and costing USD $1400. FBR provides these units.
