Myanmar women visit Mildura
Delegation of women from Myanmar visiting SRH Mildura
A GROUP of women from Myanmar (Republic of the Union of Myanmar) hope the information they gained from a visit to Mildura will help improve community health issues in their country.
The 19 senior representatives of Myanmar’s health sector were hosted for three days by Monash School of Rural Health Mildura.
Organised by the Monash Sustainability Institute, the 10-week visit to Victoria was funded by a range of organisations including the Australian and Myanmar Governments, and the United Nations.
The women have been to various Monash campuses including hospitals and rural health care facilities. Monash researchers are keen to learn about current issues in Myanmar community health while the Myanmar group is learning of Monash initiatives in community health and related areas.
The group included doctors, allied health professionals and representatives of non-government organisations (NGOs) with specific interests in maternal and child health.
According to the Head of the School of Rural Health Professor Judi Walker, maternal and child health, and HIV/AIDS present serious health issues in Myanmar.
‘However, mortality and serious illness can often be prevented through adoption of primary health care interventions,” Prof Walker said.
The first day in Mildura saw the visiting fellows tour the Mildura clinical school which included time in the simulation and women’s health training facilities. There was discussion on the role this equipment has in the education of medical students, junior doctors and allied health professionals. This equipment is not generally available in Myanmar and the chance to simulate various obstetric scenarios was a valuable learning opportunity for the delegates.
They also toured the Mildura Base Hospital and at dinner that night, spoke to local medical students about HIV/AIDS issues in Myanmar.
The evening, hosted by Associated Professor Ian Pettigrew, saw final year medical students from Monash University on placement in Mildura discuss differing healthcare perspectives and approaches to medical practice with members of the delegation. Areas of particular interest for students included the allocation of healthcare resources, access to medical treatment within rural Myanmar, and prevalence of infectious diseases, in particular the prevalence of HIV within Myanmar and means of disease prevention and management.
A highlight of the evening was a performance by the delegates of the traditional Myanmar Village Renewal dance. Performed in authentic Myanmar dress, the dance involved highly coordinated hand movements, highlighting the connection with cultural traditions and values that remain an important factor in their lives and work as healthcare professionals.
Mallee District Aboriginal Services (MDAS) hosted the group on the following day which included a visit to Coomealla Health Aboriginal Corporation. The final day saw a visit to the Robinvale Medical Clinic followed by a cruise on the River Murray.
Professor Walker said understanding the social context in which community health care was extended was as important as understanding conventional medical practice.
“Monash and Myanmar will establish an enduring collaborative relationship which is responsive to improved health outcomes,” she added.
Arrangements for the Myanmar visitors were organised by SRH Mildura’s Regional Manager,” Kendall Livingstone. “It was a pleasure to meet these outstanding women and we hope that one day some of them may return to Mildura for a follow-up visit,” she said.