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What We Do

Burma Humanitarian Mission (BHM) provides support to the Karen in three key areas:  medical supplies, medical training and constructing facilities to house and train backpack health workers.

Medical Supplies

Each year, BHM purchases over 35,000 doses of critical medicines. Given the agrarian lifestyle of the Karen, the supplies are basic and include:

• Amoxicillin
• Ciprofloxacin
• Doxicycline
• Penicillin
• Quinine sulphate
• Terramycin
• And additional medicines

BHM also funds the purchase of additional medical supplies, to include:

• Folic acid
• Chlorpheniramine injectors
• Glucose
• Canula catheter
• Disposable needles and syringes
• Elastic bandages
• And additional supplies

Medical Training

Each year BHM assists in training 30 or more Karen medics. Each medic will assist between 500 to 700 Karen villagers with living saving care. Many Karen suffer from illnesses and injuries that are preventable. The medics reinforce preventive health measures while promoting positive community health standards. The medics tailor the level of treatment and teaching to match the cultural and local norms. They serve as a catalyst for village leaders to embrace community health standards. The medics also train and organize Village Health Workers to reinforce positive habits year around.

Trainees were selected based on their willingness to commit to the mission; their openness to new ideas and share them with people in the community; desire to remain in the remote areas; and their respect and appreciation of the beliefs of the Karen people. All trainees have at least an 8th grade education and are normally recommended by local/villager leaders. Men and women between 18 and 30 years of age are accepted into the training program.

Medical Training Facilities

In 2006, BHM funds built a training classroom for the Karen medics. Classroom lectures comprise sixty percent of the training while the practical, hands-on experience. In addition, BHM supported training with handbooks, notebooks, pens, visual aids, posters and pamphlets and similar medical materials.

The training requires approximately 9 months to complete. It includes:

• First Aid and Basic Life support
• Nursing care
• Basic Obstetric
• Mother and Child care
• Basic Surgery and Advanced Life Support
• Essential Drug knowledge
• Community Management Programs

Sharing their stories

In 2008, BHM provided the National League for Democracy with video and other equipment, to facilitate their ability to share their vision, courage and determination to live with dignity and liberty. August 8th 2008 marks the 20th anniversary of the 1988 brutal repression of the peaceful uprising where the junta massacred 10,000 or more Burmese unarmed students and civilians. BHM volunteers hear their stories first-hand. With this website, you can gain some of their struggles. Our additional project this year seeks to allow the Karen and other democratically minded Burmese men and women to speak directly to the world.