Alumni Myanmar Institutes of Medicine Association (AMIMA) Races Time to Help Cyclone Victims

PHILADELPHIA, May. 11 /PRNewswire/ --

PHILADELPHIA, May 11 /PRNewswire/ -- As the global community observes the destructive aftermath of the world's second most deadly cyclone of all time and the associated mounting frustration over getting humanitarian aid for cyclone victims, the Alumni Myanmar Institutes of Medicine Association (AMIMA) has been proactive-and more importantly, successful-in initiating medical care at the low lying delta area of Myanmar where 100,000 people are assumed dead. AMIMA has funded the traveling medical team led by Dr. U Hla Myint, a revered Professor of Medicine and the Chairman of the Myanmar Medical Council (MMC), a local well-respected non-governmental organization. The mobile medical team has an existing network of Myanmar physicians throughout the rural, delta region as well as in remote villages whose access is restricted to native Burmese. Combined with the fundraising efforts of AMIMA, this emergency medical team has already made significant strides towards disaster relief while aid through other organizations continues to experience problems and has been slow to trickle down.

As Myanmar is a primarily rural and heavily impoverished nation, there is no water and electricity in many areas; communicable diseases will threaten the affected population, including typhoid, dysentery, cholera, Dengue hemorrhagic fever and malaria. The number of deaths are predicted to reach an epic 1.5 million as the few resources that existed have been decimated.

This established, mobile medical team provides medical care, clean water and food to prevent infectious diseases and is additionally providing psychological counseling. Foreseeable needs include: medicines, emergency health kits and water sanitation supplies. Dr. Kyi Minn, a regional advisor for World Vision, a global humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities assists Professor U Hla Myint's team. Many physician members of AMIMA from the USA, UK and Asia are already in Myanmar to assist the mobile medical team.

AMIMA requests financial contributions only and promise 100% delivery. Unlike other international relief organizations, as native physicians, AMIMA does not have problems importing into and obtaining medical and other supplies in the country. We need financial support for our collaborative efforts with our partners in finding and recruiting personnel, obtaining supplies, warehouse space and potential routes for transporting equipment and cargo into the country. Our member Burmese physicians are presently saving lives as other organizations continue to face the challenges of successfully deploying aid and resources into the country. The teams of doctors that we are donating towards have been doing similar trips to affected areas on behalf of Dengue hemorrhagic fever for a few years and so for them these trips can happen in no different manner.

We also need funds for the post-disaster programs which include measures to enhance the capacity of local partners to leave behind a viable reconstruction plan in place.

Please donate by writing checks paid to AMIMA. In the memo section, please specify: Cyclone Relief Fund. Please mail these checks to:

AMIMA P.O BOX 30157 ELKINS PARK, PA 19027-0157 Thank you! Jennifer Chu, M.D. President, Alumni Myanmar Institutes of Medicine (AMIMA) http://www.amima.net/projects4