From Rice Cooker to Autoclave at Dr. Cynthia’s MAE TAO CLINIC From Rice Cooker to Autoclave at Dr. Cynthia’s Mae Tao Clinic: Twenty Years of Health, Human Rights and Community Development in the Midst of War Written and published by Mae Tao Clinic February 2010 Front cover photo: Dr. Cynthia with a Mobile Medical Team in Dooplaya district treating a child, 1994. [photo: MTC] The Mae Tao Clinic (MTC), founded and directed by Dr. Cynthia Maung, provides free health care for refu- gees, migrant workers, and other individuals who cross the border from Burma to Thailand. People of all eth- nicities and religions are welcome at the clinic. Visit: www.maetaoclinic.org This book published by MTC. All rights reserved. Con- tent may be quoted for media and related purposes, but reproduction for commercial purposes requires the prior permission of MTC. TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgments .................................................................................................................................... ii List of Abbreviations ................................................................................................................................ iv Letter from Dr. Cynthia maung ..................................................................................................................1 Lessons Learned .........................................................................................................................................2 Mae Tao Clinic: The Story .........................................................................................................................3 Thailand - Burma Border Situation ...........................................................................................................9 Clinic Staff ...............................................................................................................................................11 A Community of Organizations ................................................................................................................12 1989 – 1994: The beginning .....................................................................................................................13 a) Referral Program ........................................................................................................................14 b) Dressing, Surgery, and Trauma ..................................................................................................16 c) Reproductive Health ...................................................................................................................19 d) Food & Nutrition Program .........................................................................................................21 e) Mobile Medical Teams ...............................................................................................................22 f) Civil Clinics ................................................................................................................................24 i) Cho Gali Clinic: .............................................................................................................24 ii) Sa Khan Thit: .................................................................................................................25 iii) Pa Hite: ...........................................................................................................................25 a) Medical Outpatient Department .................................................................................................26 b) Laboratory and Blood Bank .......................................................................................................28 i) Blood Donation Center .................................................................................................29 a) Water and Sanitation...................................................................................................................30 b) Partnerships: 1989 - 1994 ..........................................................................................................31 i) Planet Care/Global Health Access Program .................................................................31 ii) Burmese Relief Center ..................................................................................................32 iii) Brackett Refugee Education Fund ................................................................................33 iv) All Burma Students Democratic Front .........................................................................33 v) Karen Department of Health and Welfare ......................................................................33 vi) Burma Medical Association ...........................................................................................34 vii) Mae Sot Hospital ............................................................................................................35 1995 – 1999: Getting Organized ..............................................................................................................39 a) “A Land of War: A Journey of the Heart” ..................................................................................40 b) Child Protection Services ...........................................................................................................42 i) Delivery Certifi cates and Child Documentation ............................................................44 ii) Bamboo Children’s Home .............................................................................................44 iii) The Children’s Development Center .............................................................................45 iv) Emergency Dry Food Program ......................................................................................46 a) Eye Clinic ..................................................................................................................................47 b) Training Programs ......................................................................................................................49 c) Child Outpatient Department .....................................................................................................51 d) Clinic Library .............................................................................................................................52 FROM RICE COOKER TO AUTOCLAVE | 3 e) Medical & Child Inpatient Department ......................................................................................53 f) Finance & Administration ..........................................................................................................55 g) Stability and Security for Mae Tao Clinic ..................................................................................57 h) Partnerships: 1995 - 1999 ..........................................................................................................58 i) Back Pack Health Worker Team ....................................................................................58 ii) Karen Women’s Organisation (KWO) ...........................................................................59 iii) Karenni Nationalities Health Worker Organization ......................................................59 iv) Shan Health Committee ................................................................................................59 2000 – 2004: Building Capacity ...............................................................................................................61 a) Healer of broken souls ................................................................................................................62 b) One refugee can change the world .............................................................................................63 c) Prosthetics Department ...............................................................................................................64 d) Health Information Systems .......................................................................................................66 e) Registration / Medical Records Department ..............................................................................67 f) HIV Story ...................................................................................................................................68 g) School Health Program ............................................................................................................71 h) Public Relations ..........................................................................................................................73 i) Dental Clinic ...............................................................................................................................75 j) Partnerships: 2000 - 2004 ..........................................................................................................77 i) Burmese Migrant Workers Education Committee (BMWEC) ......................................77 ii) Committee for the Protection and Promotion of Child Rights .....................................77 iii) Adolescent Reproductive Health Network ...................................................................77 iv) Human Rights Education Institute of Burma .................................................................78 v) Social Action for Women ..............................................................................................78 vi) Burma Children Medical