Since November 2018, Chugai, in partnership with AMDA – MINDS (AMDA – Multisectoral and INtegrated Development Services)^*1, has been supporting an initiative to detect and treat non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the rural villages of Meiktila Township, which is located in the Mandalay Region of Myanmar.

Opportunities to use a regional hospital are often limited to emergency and inpatient treatment of serious illnesses. For low-income patients, ordinary outpatient consultations and treatment are a hurdle due to the distance and cost. As a result, initial treatment is delayed, which can lead to serious illness.

*Please refer to HEALTH CAMP AGAINST NCDs (FY2018) for the start of this activity.

Activities in 2019

1. A Workshop by the Township Health Bureau and Meiktila General Hospital
A workshop to decide the details of an action plan for combating NCDs was held by the staff of the Township Health Bureau and Meiktila General Hospital. We encouraged the participation of not only local residents but also regional hospitals and health authorities so that activities to support the strengthening of measures against NCDs can be operated independently. A total of 41 staff members, including doctors and nurses from the Township Health Bureau and Meiktila General Hospital, participated in the workshop this time, and lively discussions took place. As a result, eight target villages were selected for mobile clinics.

2. Providing mobile medical clinics and health education
As a pilot case, medical check-ups and treatment were conducted in eight villages. Of the 742 patients who were examined, the rate of developing any NCDs was high at about 44%, and about 34% had a diagnosis of hypertension. We created brochures on hypertension and diabetes and distributed 250 copies of both and also conducted educational activities to deepen knowledge about diseases and health.

We analyzed data from the diagnostic outcomes and utilized it to select two villages for subsequent follow-up. Mobile medical clinics were held a total of six times twice a month, with an average of more than 100 patients per visit for the two villages combined. We also provided outpatient and inpatient support for seriously ill patients.

Many residents commented that they had gained new knowledge about NCDs through the mobile clinics. The patients also said they were able to receive medical treatment without the burden of visiting a hospital, and it was helpful that the doctors and the prescribed drugs were really great. Actually, there was a case in which a woman who was suffering from leg pain and headaches understood that diabetes and high blood pressure were the cause, which led her to take her medication on a regular basis.

Comments from AMDA-MINDS Meiktila Project Coordinator, Ma Thida
Until starting this program, NCDs measures were not accepted by the County Health Bureau. We believe that it is critical to involve governments in order to ensure sustainability. This time, I feel that Chugai and AMDA-MINDS showed pilot data, which changed the perception of the Health Bureau, and so they requested that mobile clinics be implemented in whole area of Meiktila.

Based on the request of the County Health Bureau, we’re planning to scale up the mobile medical clinics six-fold in 2020, providing 48 clinics and 12 follow-up clinics across the whole area of Meiktila County.

We believe these activities lead to the sustainable solutions that Chugai aims to achieve.

*1　NGO working on Global Health based in Okayama, Japan（https://www.amda-minds.org/english/）