MU AYE PUU HOSPITAL
During my January 2003 visit to the Karen refugee area on the Thailand/Burma border, I had the opportunity to visit a remote site hospital called Mu Aye Puu. This little hospital is made from bamboo poles with a leaf roof , dirt floors and no screens on the windows. The head medic showed me his pitiful supply of medicine and it broke my heart.
The thing that struck me the most about this hospital was the fact that, like most of the remote site hospitals I have visited in the refugee areas, the patients laid on raised wooden platforms. They had no mattress, mat, pillow, mosquito net or blanket. Malaria is a terrible problem in this area and without nets, virtually 100% of the refugees contract malaria.
I would like to be able to supply the hospital with 20 mosquito nets, 20 blankets, 20 woven mats, 20 plastic water pitcher and cups, 20 plates and a "zip blessing" bag for each patient that is admitted for care. The nets, blankets, mats and eating utensils would remain hospital property and be washed and re-used. Also needed are a large supply of mosquito picks and repellant. The Zip Blessing bags could contain any personal item the donor would like to include. Suggested items are small tubes of tooth paste, tooth brush, shampoo, soap, comb, lotion, razor, individually wrapped candy, gum etc. I would like each patient to be able to take home their blessing bag to remind them that someone in the outside world was thinking of them and cares what happens to them.
Please pray about becoming involved in this special project to bless all those involved in the care of the patients who come to this remote site hospital for medical attention.
We had an overwhelming response to our request for funds to buy food and supplies for the hospital, staff and patients. $5,100.00 was received and to date we have bought $3,930.53 worth of blankets, nets, mats, utensils, pots and pans and warm sweaters. We will continue to meet needs as they arise. We want this to be an ongoing project.
IAG is taking on the project of replacing the current hospital building, which is constructed of Bamboo Poles, with a more permanent structure using wood. Listed below is the material list that has been drawn up for this project along with expected costs. We would welcome any contributions towards this project should you feel led in that direction. Once again, we thank you for your continued support.
Description |
Cost in Baht |
Cost in US $ |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood 3 X 2 | 130 pieces | 5200 baht | $132.65 |
| Wood 4 X 2 | 150 pieces | 6000 baht | $153.06 |
| Wood 6 X 12 | 580 pieces | 29000 baht | $739.80 |
| Poles 12" | 36 pieces | 5400 baht | $137.76 |
| Leaf | 2000 pieces | 3000 baht | $76.53 |
| Beds | 20 | 10400 baht | $265.31 |
| Nails | 5 Boxes | 1000 baht | $25.51 |
| Carpenter Cost | Bid | 10000 baht | $255.10 |
| Grand Total | 7000000 baht | $1785.71 | |
Here is a photo of the completed hospital building! Thank you so much for helping IAG with this ongoing project that makes such a difference in the lives of the Karen Refugees.
The hospital is complete and being used to treat 15 villages and hundreds of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP's) living on the run in the jungle.
Here is a photo of Betty with the Medics and Nurses at the hospital.
The head medics gave me their proposal for expansion while I was there. They would like to build a kitchen, dormitory for female nurses/medics, and an outpatient clinic. At the present time the hospital is doubling as an outpatient clinic also. The medics told me because they provide care for so many people who can't get help anywhere else that UNHCR (United Nations High Commission on Refugees) was supplying some of their medicine, which helps tremendously. They say that the $300.00 a month that we send keeps them in supplemental food and supplies. We have sent in the money to build the kitchen and when we get pictues, will post them on the page. Please be in prayer that the funds for the dorm and op clinic will come in so these projects may all be finished before Monsoons hit in mid to late June.
During PeeTahThoo's trip into the camps in Jan/Feb of 2006, she was so very pleased to be able to tour the completed hospital facilities. You can read about her experience and future expansion projects for the hospital in her 2006 trip Journal.
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