Cyclone Nargis prompts new healthcare plan

Published Date: December 21, 2010

MYANMAR: Bishop John Hsane Hgyi of Pathein diocese, priests and Religious nuns, 43 doctors, nurses and health workers helped organize a diocesan medical team and health knowledge sharing program on that began on Monday and will end tomorrow.

Monsignor Maurice Nyunt Wai, vicar general of Pathein diocese, said the cyclone Nargis triggered the healthcare idea that originated 10 years ago.

“We organized the medical team with the aim of networking between church-run clinics in Pathein and health workers from different parishes to carry out effectively in healthcare awareness,” Father Henry Eikhlein, director of Karuna Pathein Social Service (KPSS) told ucanews.com.

MY12564.1633

Church builds cyclone shelter in Myanmar

A cyclone-proof school and storm shelter built by the Church would have saved lives when typhoon Nargis tore through the Irrawaddy delta in Myanmar, local villagers say.

“We do really thank the Church for helping us regardless of religion,” said U Tin Aye, a Buddhist farmer from Marlargone village, one of the hardest-hit places by the cyclone.

He added that Nargis destroyed all the village houses and floods have swept away 283 out of the village’s 519 residents.

Father Henry Eikhlein, Karuna Pathein Social Service (KPSS) director, said they took the example from Bangladesh’s disaster risk reduction strategy and built a primary school that can serve as a shelter.

He added that although KPSS, the local Catholic Church’s social service agency, had assisted villagers with food items, clothing, medicines and housing, shelters are the most important aid to be given to them.

An engineer explained that while the structure is designed as a primary school, more than 200 people can take shelter in it in case of natural disasters.

About 200 people attended the cyclone shelter’s opening ceremony held in Marlargone village on Nov. 17, including the KPSS director and his staff, local authorities and the villagers.

Library helps youngsters to improve in English

Pathein diocese in Myanmar has been operating a library service to help young people improve their English language skills.

The Church-run Millennium Center library distributed English books to 20 local primary schools this year, said chief librarian, Kyaw Swa Lwin. “We try to collect the books from schools and exchange them with other books, every month,” Lwin said.

Since 2009, the library also distributed primary level English books from the British embassy to schools.

“We feel very happy when the unexpected books arrive,” said U Soe Win, principal of a government run primary school in Pathein. “I do really believe that these books will be very useful and helpful for our children.”

His school has now arranged their timetable to provide students with 75 minutes each day for reading, Win explained.

Daw Shwe In, 53, a teacher from the school, said about about half of the school’s 400 students are interested in reading English books.

“The children have improved both their English and general knowledge.They have also acquired the habit of reading,” said Shwe.

Currently, the library has about 300 members, four staff and opens every day except Friday.

The diocese directly operated Millennium Center from its opening in 2004 until last year when Karuna Pathein Social Service took over the responsibility. Karuna Pathein Social Service is Pathein diocese’s social service agency.

Myanmar Church builds up kids’ self-confidence

Karuna Pathein in Myanmar is organizing a series of “child participation days” for parishes still recovering from Cyclone Nargis.

Up to 100 children have joined the program each month in five selected villages of Pathein diocese. Karuna Pathein is Pathein diocese’s social service agency.

“The program aims to uplift the children physically and spiritually through games, songs, dances and competitions,” explained, Jerome, 26, a diocesan child protection officer.

“Our main intention is to help children be brave and dare to speak with others, to have unity and mutual understanding among themselves and to become future leaders,” he said.

Peter Soe Min Oo, another Karuna staff member who deals with psycho-social problems, added that the program uses methods of meditation, reflection and imagination as part of the trauma healing process.

“We let the children draw pictures to get in touch with their own feelings and we then spend time talking with them individually so that we can know their difficulties,” Min Oo said.

Prize giving and nutritional support are also included in the program, which participants say they enjoy.

“I never dreamed of celebrating Child Participation Day in my village,” said 14-year-old dance competition winner Htet Htet Lwin.

U Pein 54, a Buddhist farmer from the Irrawaddy delta, said that villagers are happy to see their children becoming less introverted and enjoying the program.

The monthly program will continue until December 2010.

Farmers reap benefits from organic farming

Farmers in Nargis-affected areas in the Irrawaddy Delta are enjoying positive growth by making and using natural fertilizers following a training course run by Karuna Myanmar Social Services (KMSS).

The social service agency’s intention is to make farmers understand that by using natural fertilizers instead of chemical ones, they can preserve the fertility and richness of the soil, said John Ngwe, a KMSS trainer.

“This helps the environment increases their yield, and improves their quality of life” he said.

“We showed them how to make natural fertilizers from cheap and readily available materials that anyone can get hold of,” he added.

The Catholic agency invited 40 farmers from Nargis-affected areas and trained them in organic farming methods back in June. It also selected fields for cultivation in 21 villages, said Raymond Soe Lay, a Karuna Pathein Social Service worker.

Farmers are already seeing positive results.

“All my betel plants are growing well after I started adopting all the methods I was taught,” said U Aung Naing, a Buddhist farmer from Aima.

“Some of my friends are using old methods and a lot of their crops have died,” he said.

Making natural fertilizers doesn’t’ take long and is very good for the soil, allowing it to get more out of it, he added.

One farmer says he’s conducting his own experiment before he’s fully convinced.

“I’m using a small plot to grow organic crops and I’ll compare what I get there with what I’m growing on the rest of my land,” said John Bosco Myo Win.

Karuna says it intends to give further training, not only in Nargis affected areas, but also to farmers from 10 selected villages in Pathein, Myaungmya and Hinthada parishes from Sept 27 to 30.