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Annual Report2016–2017
Health | Education | Food Security
Year ended 31 March 2017
Health&Hope
Health and Hope is a Christian NGO working in western Myanmar. Our aim is to envision and empower rural communities to become thriving through self-development. We partner with local villagers regardless of tribal association, religious background, gender or social standing.
Our committed, indigenous staff team design and oversee programmes addressing development needs in the three key areas of health, education and food security.
This year has seen many challenges for Health
and Hope, but also considerable achievement
and successes.
Our Traditional Birth Attendant (TBA) project
continues to bear much fruit, improving the
outcomes of pregnant women and babies through
the provision of antenatal, birth and post-natal
education for women in rural communities.
Indeed, we are excited to report that the
orphanage in our base town, Lailenpi, closed its
doors this year as there have been no maternal
deaths during childbirth since the TBA training
began in 2012!
We are also pleased to announce that during
2016-17, our first four Freedom to Education (FEP)
students have successfully graduated. We are
overjoyed to see the fruits of their hard work and
excited that from this year onward we will see a
steady flow of graduates returning to join our work
in Myanmar.
Other successes include the completion of our first
hydro-electric project. This has not only brought
light to the dark nights and clean water to our
clinic and training centre, but has also given hope
to local people that their hard work can bring
about change for the better.
We were honoured to share this and other
developments with the Vice President of Myanmar
when he visited Lailenpi in February 2017. We
are so grateful for the on-going support of the
Myanmar Government and for their affirmation of
our work.
Our Community Health Workers (CHWs) continue
to play a vital role in meeting health needs in the
rural communities where we serve. To support
their efforts, we have delivered in-situ refresher
and advanced health training courses this year for
our CHWs. We have also organised free clinics and
distributed medicines, vitamins, safe delivery kits
and dignity kits across many remote communities.
The happiness and joy that we see in villagers’
faces is priceless and worth all the sacrifice, risk
and difficulties that we experience working in this
difficult environment.
Alongside the successes, there have been many
challenges this year. Extreme and unpredictable
weather conditions have led to increased food
insecurity. Most recently, on 30th May 2017,
Cyclone Mora caused torrential rain and high
winds in western Myanmar, destroying homes and
triggering landslides. Many roads were blocked
or damaged and homes were destroyed, leaving
over 250 men, women and children homeless. We
were devastated that our training centre was also
flattened by these high winds, along with other
key buildings.
Given the impact that the loss of our training
centre will have on our work, our main priority
in the year ahead, alongside continuing our
healthcare work in the villages, will be the
rebuilding of a cyclone-proof training facility to
replace what we have lost.
Despite these challenges, we are confident that,
thanks to the support and encouragement of
all our partners, we will continue to grow and
develop our work empowering and envisioning
communities and bringing health and hope to
many in western Myanmar.
Thank you so much for your ongoing support,
– Dr Sasa, Founder of Health & Hope
“From all the Health & Hope team, and on behalf of the people whose lives you have touched, I want to say a big thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
About Health and HopeHealth and Hope is a Christian NGO founded by a local doctor, Dr Sasa, working in a remote region of Chin State in western Myanmar.
Health and Hope’s work started in 2007 when Dr
Sasa garnered international support for medical
work and cross-border food aid to respond to the plight
of thousands of people affected by a regional famine.
Since 2009, Dr Sasa and a committed team have
established the first ever primary healthcare service
for the region, and by 2017 had trained 834 Community
Our locally-led team are able to work
alongside rural villagers to help them find
solutions to their problems despite living in
the context of extreme poverty. Through this
approach we are seeing hope return, people
empowered and community-owned models
of development emerge, which are bringing
lasting and transformative change.
Hope, faith, love and practical action are the hallmarks of our work.
Health Workers (CHWs) and over 150 Traditional Birth
Attendants (TBAs) from 551 villages.
In addition to supporting local communities to improve
their own healthcare, Health and Hope has pioneered
a number of initiatives in the field of education and
community development, whilst also undertaking
relief work in response to natural disasters.
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MYANMAR
INDIA SAGAINGDivision
MAGWAYDivision
RAKHINE STATE
CHIN STATE
Aizawl
Champhai
Tonzang
Tedim
Falam
ThantlangHakha
Siaha
Bozung
Chapi
RezuaLailenpiShinletwa
Matupi
Mindat
Kanpetlet
Paletwa
ButhidaungKyauktaw
Mrauk-U
Ponagyun
Minbya
Ann
Pakoku
Gangaw
Health & Hope Base
Town/Village
CHW Partner Villages
0 60Kilometers
2016–2017 • Year in numbers
17 270
5,000 5003,500
57 2220,000
556 4
TOTAL INCOME
£374,944FROM EVERY POUND SPENT:
WITHIN MYANMAR:
TOTAL EXPENDITURE
£331,012
Increase in supporters
Area co-ordinators recruited and supporting our CHWs in-situ
CHWs received refresher training
Dignity kits distributed to women and girls
Safe delivery kits distributed to
pregnant womenFamilies provided with multi-vitamins
TBAs trained Free medical clinicsVillagers received food aid in phase 3 of flood relief work
Current FEP students supported to study at college or university level
New trusts partnering with us
FEP students graduated and returning to support the work of H&H
Freedom to Education Project
• Financial Report •
Health
Education
Went on raising funds
Went on organisational costs in the UK
Went on capacity building and training
Was sent to Myanmar
Food security
Hydro-electric
6.5p
3.5p
3p
87p
36%
64%18%
14%
4%
Community Health Worker Support Programme
Refresher and Advanced Training
In November 2016, seventy Community Health
Workers (CHWs) travelled to Lailenpi to receive
refresher and advanced training. This was a great
success, with our CHWs reviewing key topics from
their basic training and exploring more advanced
subjects including emergency first aid and the care
of newborns and mothers.
Despite a strong commitment to further training, it
is not feasible for many CHWs to leave their homes
to attend our extended training course due to food
insecurity and difficult travelling conditions across
the region. To address this we launched in-situ
refresher courses. Dr Sasa and the team of Area
Co-ordinators visited rural villages throughout
Chin and Rakhine State providing training for 200
CHWs in addition to conducting 22 free medical
clinics. During these clinics, 3,500 families were
provided with multi-vitamins, and dignity kits
were distributed to pregnant women.
Over the last seven years, Health & Hope has trained 834 Community Health Workers (CHWs) from 551 rural villages in Chin and Rakhine States.
CHWs work to alleviate poverty through addressing
the vast majority of sickness and ill-health in rural
areas through education and preventative practices.
Their simple interventions can have a significant
impact in reducing morbidity and averting mortality,
particularly for newborns, children and their mothers.
Village-level SupportTo improve the sustainability of our health
programme, we launched a new village-level support
project in July 2016. Seventeen Area Co-ordinators
were recruited to provide the support and continued
training of CHWs, to improve the distribution of
essential medicines throughout our village network,
and to collect data on health outcomes. Each Area
Co-ordinator is responsible for supporting 15-20 CHWs
and overseeing the provision of healthcare to an
average of 3,600 villagers.
“Before the H&H training, things were very
bad; there was no proper drinking water,
no toilets, no health worker and hygiene was poor.
This meant lots of people had diarrhoea, fever
and disease. There was also no unity among the
community. People just did their own work and
nobody cared for each other. There weren’t any
strong relationships, planning or vision among the
people, they just did whatever they wanted.
When I was told about the Health and Hope training
I was so interested to go and learn. Dr Sasa taught us
how to love others, to be compassionate and about
the importance of leadership among our community.
Before I went, I had no idea how to communicate,
I did not know about love, patience and caring
for others.
“I am so privileged to be a health worker. It is one of the biggest blessings in my life. I would not be able to help anyone if I had not been given this opportunity.”
After I came back from the training, I wanted to
do all the good things that I learnt from Health
and Hope among my people. I did not know
anything about health, such as fever, diarrhoea,
even about safe drinking water, but now I have
learnt to practice these things. I can also use
the equipment that I was given to help sick
people and am able to speak to my people about
healthcare and prevention.
The most exciting thing is when I see a patient is
full of hope. Seeing the peace of my villagers also
gives me joy in my life. To know that many health
problems can be solved even with just clean
water and good hygiene.”
Mama Aye’s Story
“When I went into labour, the water
was still rising. I remember it had
reached my knees and all connection to other
villages was cut off. As this was my first
pregnancy I was so scared. I thought that I
and my child were going to die. But at that
time, our Community Health Worker trained
by Health and Hope came out of nowhere,
arriving at our house by boat. It was so
dangerous, I couldn’t believe he had come.
Still to this day, I have no idea how he found
my home. He brought his boat right up to my
bed where I was lying before helping deliver
my child. That day he saved us both from
dying. Now I am just so happy. Look, my
daughter is so healthy. It’s unbelievable how
we were saved.”
“Through the CHW training I learnt so much
about health problems that people faced.
I also learnt about faithfulness, honesty, unity
and good leadership. In my region, we do not
have these things; we don’t have leaders who
care about the good of our people. I was inspired
to be both a good health worker, as well as a
good leader for my people, to encourage the next
generation through my work.”
– Soe Myan Tha, CHW
CHW Testimonies
– Ma Thwin Hlaing, Rakhine State
TBA Testimonies“I am 70 and have delivered over 2,000 babies
in Lailenpi and the surrounding villages
over my lifetime. I never went to a school. My
community is very poor and until recently we had
no doctors or nurses, hospital or clinic. Though
we are happy when our women become pregnant,
there is also great fear and worry as they face
great difficulties in giving birth safely.
I never hoped or expected that I would have the
opportunity to attend such professional training.
The hardest and most difficult parts of childbirth
have become simple and less stressful for me. I
feel more confident.
TBA training is best for women like me, delivering
babies where there are no doctors or hospitals.
We are untrained, illiterate women who have
always worked on the farm. We didn’t even know
how important it was to wash our hands before
attending childbirth! But now we have had lessons
and were given notebooks with pictures, that help
“When I heard that Health and Hope were
inviting TBAs for training, I was so happy
and excited to go. I have been to all five training
courses! The training has been more than I could
have imagined. I was able to compare what I was
taught with my experiences and I easily picked up
such things as hand washing, skin to skin contact,
resuscitation, how to stop the bleeding more easily,
breastfeeding, and how to measure blood pressure
and temperature.
I am so proud of the knowledge that I have
received. Now, whenever there is a complication
during delivery or with a newborn baby, I
remember all that I have been taught and am
excited to perform the practices I have learnt. Since
receiving the training I have found that skin to
skin contact has helped me solve a lot of problems
women face post-delivery. Through the practice of
breastfeeding I can also see and hear many babies
become more healthy and calm.
One day in Matupi a women had been in labour
for three days. Three nurses from Matupi hospital
tried to help her but the baby’s shoulder was stuck
us understand
and improve
our practice. We
have also been
given equipment
which is so
helpful for all
of us.
I have attended
all four phases
of TBA training
given by Health
& Hope. I have delivered 70 babies since I attended the
first training and all have delivered well and grown
healthily.
My hope is that I will be able to continue to be a good
TBA and be helpful for my community, especially the
women and babies, even in my old age!”
– Hlau Cha, TBA
and they could not do anything, so the husband
sent someone with a motor bike to call me. It was
a one day journey from my village to Matupi town,
but as soon as I heard the bad news I prepared
myself to go and arrived there at 9:00pm. In the
beginning, I was a bit nervous because three nurses
were surrounding her. I saw the mother’s pain and
tiredness; I felt very sorry for her.
The nurses finally said that they could not do
anything more; that she and the baby would die. I
then asked them to please leave her, and let me see
if I could help her. When I looked I saw the baby’s
shoulder was stuck and the lessons I had practiced
during the TBA training came to my mind clearly. I
did as we had learnt and the baby came out easily.
Both mother and baby were happy and saved within
a few minutes!
The nurses were amazed and curious about where
I learnt all those things from. The mother was
crying and all of them were so happy and amazed
at the technique I used.”
– Mrs Siza, TBA
Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) are usually older
women who hold status and respect within their
communities. They have their own children and have
gained knowledge of the birthing process through
practical experience and oral tradition, rather than
formal learning.
Poor traditional hygiene practices, as well as myths
and superstitions surrounding childbirth, can be
radically reversed through education, leading to
a significant reduction in maternal and perinatal
mortality and morbidity.
Midwives from our partner, Birthlink UK, provided
two bespoke training courses for 57 local TBAs this
year. The training included a basic introductory course
followed by lessons in advanced practical skills and
management of obstetric emergencies.
Traditional Birth Attendants
In the last three years, since trained TBAs have been operating in Lailenpi, there have been no recorded maternal or neonatal deaths, where previously there were three to five per year.
Hydro-electric Completion
Thanks to funding from the Guernsey
Overseas Aid Commission, Health and
Hope constructed a hydro-electric plant and
clean water supply between February and
October 2016.
The newly constructed facility is critically
important to the safe running of our
medical clinic, addressing the need for a
reliable electricity supply to support better
patient care, and enabling refrigeration of
medications and sterilisation of instruments.
The provision of clean water is also vital
to achieving better health outcomes for
patients, visiting students and the wider
community.
Alongside medical benefits, the hydroelectric
project will support students’ education
in the evenings and allow more reliable
communication with national and
international colleagues.
UNFPA Partnership
“Electric power has helped us to deliver babies who are born in the night and, right now, is helping us to provide oxygen to patients in emergencies. We can use it for patient recreation too, and can charge our phones and computer batteries.
The electric power has also helped improve our safety from snakes! Sometimes snakes from the jungles and bushes come into our hospital, which is very dangerous. Now we can clearly see them to protect ourselves.”
We were delighted to partner with
the UNFPA to distribute 5,000
dignity kits to women in Chin State
throughout 2016-2017. Dignity kits
provide the basic items that women
and girls need to maintain hygiene,
respect and dignity, particularly in the
face of natural disasters.
In October, the UNFPA featured Health
& Hope’s work on their website, in
addition to reporting on our work to
deliver 400 Clean Delivery Kits to
pregnant women in the aftermath of
Cyclone Komen in 2015.
– Military Doctor stationed in Lailenpi
Vice President visitIn February, the Vice President of Myanmar
announced a surprise visit to Lailenpi to see
the work of Health & Hope, to view proposals for
development of the airstrip and to inspect progress
on the development of the town.
Despite short notice, local people and elders from
the village were motivated to clear land, build two
helipads and even lay out the red carpet for the Vice
President’s arrival.
The Vice President arrived by helicopter, along
with Deputy Minister Major-General Than Htut,
Union Minister U Thant Sin Maung and many
members of the Cabinet representing a variety of
key government offices.
During a presentation to the entire community,
the Vice President praised Health & Hope’s
healthcare and education programme, while Dr Sasa
presented proposals from the local townspeople
for improvements to roads, schools, the hospital,
energy and communication.
In acknowledgement of the achievements of local
people, Cabinet Ministers committed significant
financial support for improved infrastructure in and
around Lailenpi, in addition to holding a Cabinet
meeting to approve proposals for development of
the airstrip.
The Vice President praised Health & Hope’s healthcare and education programmes, while Dr Sasa presented proposals from the local townspeople for improvements to roads, schools, the hospital, energy and communication.
MAF AirstripHealth & Hope is delighted that the partnership
with Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) to
develop and build an airstrip in Lailenpi has taken
significant steps forward. The airstrip will reduce
travel time to Yangon from three to four days by land
to just 90 minutes by air.
Despite being a large and complex project in a sensitive
minority-ethnic border region, the project inspired
support from the Vice-President, the Director of Civil
Aviation and Deputy Minister Major-General Than
Htut. Feasibility studies have now been completed
and approval for the airstrip construction has been
granted. A geo-technical and environmental survey
will be carried out during 2017-18 with an anticipated
completion date of April 2020.
NORTH
JUN
E 2017
C H
E C
K E
D :
D A
T E :
8280
MAF MYANMARLAILENPI AIRPORT
On average, only 8% of children from rural
areas of Chin State pass their high school
exams at grade 10. For those who do, financial
constraints and the lack of access to college
education prevent most from continuing their
studies. This limits their potential to break out of
the engrained cycle of poverty and constrains the
growth of a future generation of leaders.
This year we are pleased to welcome our first
four FEP graduates back to Myanmar, including
Dr Sasa’s younger brother, Sakie, who completed
his medical studies with first class honours from
China. Three graduates have taken roles within
Health & Hope while Sakie is applying for his
medical license in Yangon.
By the end of March 2017, 84 students had been supported in their studies, ranging from Year 11 to final year degree students.
Freedom to Education Project
In August 2016, Bryan and Martin beat their fundraising targets to bring in £4,596 towards our hydro-electric project by trekking 200 miles coast to coast from St Bees in the Lake District to Robin Hood Bay near Whitby.
Supporter FocusHealth and Hope is grateful to have so many generous and committed supporters in the UK, USA and beyond. Our supporters are a huge source of encouragement to our team and the communities we serve in Myanmar, and their partnership is crucial to the on-going success of our work.
We love to hear stories from our supporters
about the education and fundraising initiatives
they organise. This year’s events have included a
sponsored coast-to-coast walk, a bike ride across
France, cake sales and church breakfasts.
Busy bakersMegan, Emily and Willa were busy baking in 2017,
raising £160 through a church cake sale.
Cakes & CraftsHannah, Lucy, John and Charlie recently
gave a presentation about Health & Hope
at Doxford Place Methodist Church. They
also sold cakes and crafts afterwards and
raised £474!
Bryan celebrated his 70th birthday en-route, and
despite being blown over by the wind, falling five
times in one day and struggling through freezing
temperatures, he was undeterred, following the walk
up by joining three of our other committed supporters
on an 800-mile cycle ride across France in 2017.
£78,409TOTAL INCOME FROM INDIVIDUALS 2016–17:
On 30th May 2017, Cyclone Mora made landfall in
Bangladesh before moving northwards through
western Myanmar. Torrential rain and high winds
destroyed homes and triggered landslides in rural
villages with 37 families made homeless in the village
of Lailenpi where our work is based.
In addition, we were devastated to lose the majority of
our training centre; seven buildings were destroyed
including our main training hall, kitchen, dining area
and four dormitory buildings.
Training Facility Destroyed by Cyclone Mora
Losing such critical infrastructure, and with only
our office and clinic left standing, we have adapted
operational activities for the coming year while also
developing plans for rebuilding of a new cyclone-
proof training facility.
Dr Sasa made an emergency trip to the UK in June
2017 to draw up rebuilding plans and to meet key
donors. We now hope to raise £248,000 to allow a
new training centre and dormitory to be constructed
before May 2018.
Education programmes for
local school children;
The storage and distribution
of medicines & medical equipment;
Since 2011, the training facility that had become a beacon of hope for so many had supported:
834 100,000+
150
THE TRAINING OF: THE DISTRIBUTION OF:
Community Health Workers;tonnes of emergency food relief;
Traditional Birth Attendants;
Youth and women’s
conferences;
Community events and
hosting of government
visitors.
International Office: UKHealth & Hope UK, 62 Heronsgate Road
Chorleywood, Herts, WD3 5NX, UK
Phone: +44 (0)20 8144 5701
National Office: MyanmarHealth & Hope, Lailenpi Town,
Matupi Township, Chin State, Myanmar
Phone: +95 (0)925 086 9302
Health and Hope is represented in the UK by Health and Hope UK, a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered
in England under Company No. 08290412 and Charity No. 1151105. Health and Hope is registered in Myanmar under NGO
Registration No. 0264.
Health&Hope
Contact Detailswww.healthandhope.org
www.facebook.com/healthandhope.org
Patron: HRH The Prince of Wales
