It has been nearly five years since the military coup in Myanmar.
While international media coverage has largely faded, some may wonder whether the situation has stabilized. Conditions continue to deteriorate gradually, and daily life for many people is becoming increasingly difficult. This is especially true in the healthcare sector.
Public hospitals are often the last lifeline for citizens to continue to struggle with severe staff shortages, leaving many patients without adequate treatment. Knowing that countless people are still searching desperately for medical care, Japan Heart has remained committed to operating Wachet Charity Hospital despite the worsening security situation.
Yet even as we continue our work, the area surrounding Wachet Village has grown increasingly unstable. As a result, fewer patients can safely travel to the hospital for treatment.
This raises an urgent question:
If patients cannot reach us, how can we reach them?
Bringing Healthcare to Displaced Children
In mid-November, the Wachet medical team traveled about 90 minutes by car to a monastery in Kyaukse to conduct a mobile medical clinic. We visited before, but the situation there had changed dramatically.
Originally, around 300 children, many from ethnic minority communities or impoverished families, lived at the monastery. Today, that number has grown to nearly 700.
Approximately 400 children were newly displaced due to escalating conflict in central Myanmar. Frequent clashes in their home villages forced them to flee, and schools were shut down, depriving them not only of safety but also of education. Many children left their parents behind in order to continue studying in a safer environment.
During this outreach visit, the team provided medical check-ups and treatment. While most children appeared generally healthy, many suffered from colds and skin conditions caused by crowded living conditions.
In addition to prescribing medication and providing wound care, the team offered guidance on improving ventilation and sanitation. Practical advice such as regularly washing and sun-drying bedding and towels can significantly reduce infections in communal settings.
Children’s Stories
The 700 children living at the monastery each carry their own story.
Some were abandoned as infants. Others, including high school students, chose to leave home voluntarily in order to continue their education safely.
“Here, we don’t have to flee suddenly because of fighting. I’m happy that I can study in peace,” one teenage girl shared.
The head monk explained the challenge of caring for so many children:
“When there are this many, it’s difficult to take each child to a hospital for minor illnesses. We hope you can continue to help monitor their health regularly.”
Despite the hardship surrounding them, these children continue to look toward the future with determination.
Japan Heart remains committed to supporting them ensuring that even in crisis, their health does not become another obstacle to their dreams.
Because healthcare should reach those who cannot reach it.
