Karen Department of Health and Welfare of Annual Report 2011

Karen Mobile Health Clinic and Primary Health Care Program
Operations and Logistics
Mobile health clinics (MHCs) are situated in all seven districts of Karen state. During 2011 they
served a population of 121,934 people. MHC locations are shown in Figures 1a and 1b. The
names and boundaries on the maps, used for decades by KDHW for administrative purposes,
differ from names and boundaries in published maps of Burma or Myanmar. The map has no
political significance. Traditional Karen names for the areas are used, and the boundaries reflect
areas with large Karen populations. Other groups in Karen state - Mon, Burman, or other, have
equal access to services of the mobile health clinics.
Townships, into which districts are divided, are shown in Figure 1b, because Bleet Daweh is a
single district with large townships. The smaller townships are not shown in Figure 1a so that
the six districts can be clearly distinguished.
Medicine and medical equipment are purchased from suppliers used by internationallyrecognized
NGOs. Supplies are delivered to each mobile health clinic every six months,
depending on the clinic’s geography and security situation. They are transported mainly by foot
and by boat from the border. This is a difficult process, and health workers often must travel at
night to avoid SPDC troops. The way is protected by local security networks.
Village volunteers carry medical supplies across a river to Saw Ka Daw Ta MHC
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