Burma - Health Assistance for Vulnerable Populations - Doctors without Borders 2014

March 2014 - In the state of Rakhine over one million people—more than 140 000 of whom are living in temporary or make-shift shelters—are still suffering the consequences of inter-community violence that erupted in 2012. In addition to the on-going fear and mistrust between communities some of the challenges facing the internally displaced people and the host communities include: lack of trained medical staff high malnutrition rates increased risk of water-borne diseases and obstructed freedom of movement. Members of the Muslim Rohingya community are particularly vulnerable. With DFATD’s support Doctors without Borders Canada is improving the health of up to 180 000 vulnerable people in northern Rakhine. Project activities include: (1) providing emergency primary health care including treatment of malnutrition and mental health and diagnosis and treatment of HIV and malaria; and (2) providing specialized referrals to secondary and tertiary state health facilities.

The expected immediate outcomes for this project include: (1) increased access to emergency basic health care; and (2) increased access to emergency and specialized referrals to secondary and tertiary state health facilities. The expected intermediate outcome is reduced vulnerability of crisis-affected people especially women and children.