Myanmar

Fast Facts

COUNTRY PROFILE

• Population: 52.9 million
• Partner: Northern Women’s Development Foundation (NWDF)
• Based in: Tachileik
• Partner since: 2017

PROGRAM FOCUS

• Working to ensure comprehensive cleft care services are available to children and families in the country, and bringing speech therapy closer to patients’ homes through mobile and community-based speech camps
• Collaborating with local health and community centres within the region to share information about cleft lip and palate, and ensure communities know where and how to access treatment
• Ensuring nutritional support is available to high-risk newborns and infants

RECENT SUCCESSES

• NWDF is working to expand in-country treatment options for children from Myanmar by partnering with a local dentist and rolling out tele-speech therapy to reach patients closer to home.
• In 2020, 65 families received care in partnership with NWDF

KEY CHALLENGES

• Long travel distances: Many families have to travel for three to four days from rural communities to reach care
• Challenges in accessing care: Due to language barriers, poor road conditions, lack of locally available services and periodic natural disasters
• Shortage of cleft professionals in country: Families continue to rely on Thai professionals for many services 

WHAT OUR PARTNERS ARE SAYING

• “I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation for the kind concern and devotion to promote the quality of life of these disadvantaged groups of society. I have enjoyed my long partnership with TF!” – Phanomwan Yoodee, Social Worker (NWDF)

CANADIAN SUPPORTERS: Philip Smith Foundation

Program Updates