Channelnewsasia.com
Saturday, November 22, 2008
   
 
  blogs  
 
yournews
   
Coping with the Crisis
Video Finance Features Weather Travel Discussion TV Shows
CNA Live    | About Us 
 
  Home ›
 
Singapore News

 
 

MOH deploys medical team to Myanmar in aid of relief effort
Posted: 22 May 2008 1205 hrs

 
 
Photos  of

   
 
Related News
UN chief arrives in cyclone-hit Myanmar
UN's Ban to try to convince Myanmar on aid
US questions relevance of funding conference for Myanmar
ASEAN, UN call on international community to help victims of Cyclone Nargis
Complaints of corruption amid prayers for Myanmar's cyclone dead
Special Report
Picture Gallery on Cyclone Nargis

SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Health (MOH) has deployed a medical team to Myanmar on Thursday, following the country's agreement to allow ASEAN-member countries to send in medical teams to assist with relief efforts.

  • Fast Facts

    The Singapore team – deployed for two weeks – comprises doctors and nurses from various hospitals and institutions under the SingHealth and National Healthcare Group clusters.

    A total of four doctors and eight nurses will provide medical support for the cyclone victims in Myanmar, and they are bringing with them medical supplies to treat water-borne diseases.

    Dr Juliana Thay, medical officer, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, said: "(They're) very primary diseases like infectious diseases, food poisoning, gastroenteritis, cholera and snake bites because they have been hit by a cyclone and there are a lot of water-borne diseases."

    An ASEAN task force assessing the situation in Myanmar has expressed fears of a potential second wave of deaths due to diseases and lack of proper nutrition.

    A Health Ministry official said there is already a doctor on site in Myanmar as part of the ASEAN assessment team and his ground report has been helpful in understanding the environment that the Singapore team would have to operate in when they are in Yangon.

    Wong Yoong Cheong, director, Operation Readiness Control Division at MOH, said: "We are likely to operate in one of the local hospitals – a very small hospital with 50 beds. We are also told that the conditions there could be quite bad and the guys are ready to stay on and provide whatever we can.

    "Besides medical supplies, we are also bringing in some of the essentials. We are prepared for the worst if the medical team has to live off the land. We have tents, the safari bed and we've also given them contingency water and rations for up to two days before the resupply goes in."

    MOH may send in more supplies and personnel, based on the needs on the ground.

    The medical team departed at noon on Thursday for Myanmar on a Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) C-130 transport aircraft at Paya Lebar Air Base.


    - CNA/ls/so

     

  •  



    Other singapore News
    Healthcare costs not a problem during recession with S$42b in reserves
    More 2 and 3 room HDB flats to be built in the next few months
    Car showrooms see crowds, while dealers wary of possible cut in COE supply
    Downturn will not affect planning of S'pore's policies on ageing
    Two new infocomm learning centres for seniors opened
    Reactions range from "timely" to "cautious" to slew of govt's help measures
    Australia, Peru to join in trans-pacific FTA talks with member countries
    Employers and workers welcome SPUR scheme
    Changing demography of NSmen poses new challenges for SAF
    Analogue cameras prove to be a hit among young S'poreans
    American Chamber of Commerce organises volunteer event in S'pore
    New research platform launched to help commercialise new innovations
    Singapore, China signs MOU on aviation security cooperation
    APEC grows stronger, more relevant with each crisis, says George Yeo

     


    Advertisements

     
    Affiliate Sites:
     
    About Us  |  Contact Us  |  Advertise with Us  |  Terms & Conditions