Bringing health care back to the children of Myanmar

The ongoing military conflict puts health care out of reach for many of Myanmars children. Especially the ethnic minorities have no longer access to the health care centers in the cities. Together with our international partners we are proud to have helped a hopeful hospital in the jungle become operational! Thanks to newly built infrastructure, donated instruments and ongoing knowledge transfer, some of our young patients finally obtain desperately needed treatment.

We sincerely thank our donors, who help patients like Yu Yu look towards a brighter future!

SWISS NEUROSURGEONS INTERNATIONAL, IBAN CH63 0852 8115 5334 1200 2, Privatbank IHAG Zürich, SWIFT IHZUCHZZXXX, Clearing number 8528

Intensified Education of Myanmar Medical Specialists

After four years of Covid and military coup, we came back to Yangon, performed conjoint vascular and oncological surgeries with young colleagues at the General Hospital and relaunched our educational program with the neurosurgical department of the Medical University of Yangon.

With Dr. Mya Hla Kywe and Dr May Hsu Mon two young female neurosurgeons are finishing their fellowship in Switzerland and returning to the care of their patient in Yangon in November 2023. In January 2024, two promising neurosurgery residents - Dr. Wai Min Thet and Dr. Thein Htet Aung will begin their specialist training in Switzerland; followed in summer by another three female resident: Myat Mon Zin Thein (neurosurgeon), Dr. Hsu Lwin Lwin Thaw (neuro-anaesthetist) and Ms. Seinn Moh Moh (scrub nurse). Based on the success of this educational program an extension into reconstructive surgery, neurology and anaesthesia has started in 2023.

Building Remote Health Centers for Ethnic Minorities In South East Asia

Countless ethnic minorities are cut off from the regular health care system by geographic barriers and military conflicts in Myanmar. This is particularly devastating for children, for whom it is often impossible to reach the urban medical centres. SNI supports the build-up of new remote hospitals. In 2023, we helped equip an operation room and brought the essential instruments for a series of surgeries to a new hospital in the jungle of Kayen State, followed by surgical missions. Thanks to these educational events, run with other international partners, we bring not only the tools but also the knowledge and skills for better health care.

More help needed.

Months after the beginning of the unrest the situation is becoming increasingly alarming for the people in Myanmar. Neurosurgical care for patients with head trauma, tumors and malformations is still significantly deminished, putting many people with treatable conditions at risk. SNI is increasing its efforts to support the medical community.

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Military Coup in Myanmar endangers the newly built health care system

The military coup of February 2021 has lead to an untold increase in violence in Myanmar, as unarmed civilians - even children - are being attacked, tortured and killed. Health care workers have joined the Civil Disobedience Movement and are being harassed by members of the armed forces on a daily basis.

As the young Burmese continue their stoic, peaceful protest, our undiminished effort is required to support the numerous Burmese health care workers who take care of the victims of the conflict, often becoming victims themselves.

Craniotomy Course and Educational event in Yangon and Mandalay, Autumn 2019

SNI organized and ran a Craniotomy course in Mandalay in November 2019. An international staff, including neurosurgeons from Bern, Lugano, Singapore, Yangon and Mandalay teach 3 dozens young Burmese neurosurgeons on how to standard-of-care approaches to cerebral lesions.

Educational Visit and Surgical Mission to Myanmar November 2018

In November 2018 our team from the neurosurgical departments of Bern and Lugano visited the University hospitals in Mandalay and Yangon.

Neurosurgical residents at the University Hospital in Mandalay

International team at work

Apart from general neurosurgical lectures and surgical support for the local doctors in Mandalay, this year’s focus was to introduce intraoperative neuromonitoring techniques at the university hospital in Yangon. This technique is essential for patient’s safety and radical tumor removal and was not available in Myanmar yet.

Therefore Dr. med. Kathleen Seidel, neurosurgeon and neurophysiologist from Bern, joined our team this year to train and support local staff. Prior to our visit a neurologist and 2 technicians from Yangon have been attending a 4 month fellowship in Bern to learn intraoperative monitoring techniques.

Prof. Philippe Schucht (CH) and Prof. Myat Thu (Chairman, Neurosurgical department, University 1, Yangon)

Introducing intraoperative neuromonitoring

Theoretical lectures prior to surgery at Neurosurgical department, University 1, Yangon

Teamwork, Neurosurgical Department, University 1, Yangon

Intraoperative Neurophysiology in Yangon Neurosurgery.

IOM Team, Neurosurgical department, Yangon General hospital, University 1

Another important step was achieved in Yangon University Hospital this year: the first intraoperative neurophysiological monitored (IOM) tumor surgeries were performed! IOM is a complex methodology that increases safety of brain surgery. Although IOM is standard of care in neurosurgical centers of excellency worldwide, many developing neurosurgical units do not have IOM yet due to lack of knowledge, skills and appropriate instruments. In 2017, SNI and the medical faculty of the Medical University of Yangon 1 decided to introduce state-of-the-art IOM to Myanmar, despite the complexity of the task. In a first step, SNI invited and sponsored the neurologist Moe Zaw Myint and two IOM technicians for six months scholarships to the University Hospital of Bern, Switzerland to learn the techniques under the supervision of the local IOM head, Kathleen Seidel, and SNI neurosurgeons. Kathleen Seidel and SNI organized the acquisition of appropriate IOM instruments. An SNI team (Philippe Schucht, Janine Abu-Isa, Dominique Kuhlen and Irena Zubak, as well as Kathleen Seidel as the head of this project) went to Yangon to perform the first IOM cases together with the Yangon team. To ensure correct machine settings, material and knowledge the first cases have been supervised and now Yangon IOM is ready to go. Intraoperative Neurophysiology will allow functional guidance and real-time feedback of neurological function, during tumor surgeries in brain and spinal cord in Myanmar. Another milestone reached for improved neurosurgical care in Myanmar!

First IOM patient in Yangon

SNI`s Philippe Schucht elected as visiting Professor of Neurosurgery at Mandalay University

The University of Mandalay has appointed Philippe Schucht as a visiting Professor to its Neurosurgical Department, which will further tighten the ties between SNI and the Myanmar Neurosurgical Society.

New collaboration and exchange program with Kathmandu, Nepal

We are pleased to announce a future collaboration and exchange with Prof. Sushil K. Shilpakar from the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Starting from December 2017, young Nepalese doctors will have to opportunity to spend a three month fellowship at the neurosurgical department of the University Hospital in Berne in order to acquire valuable knowledge for their patients in Nepal.

Each fellowship will be funded by Swiss Neurosurgeons International.

Thank you for making your donation to support SNI fellowships.
 

Surgical Mission to Myanmar in November 2017

Yet another surgical mission to Yangon and Mandalay is planned for November 2017. Several children and adolescents have been diagnosed with meningoceles in Southern Myanmar and will be brought to Yangon for surgeries paid and performed by SNI surgeons in collaboration with local surgeons. Even though SNI personell works at their own expenses, transportation, nutrition and expandable materials are to be funded for these surgeries:

Donators who are willing to take sponsorship of a child`s surgery at a total cost of 500 Sfr are wanted, and much needed!

Neurosurgical boot camp 2017

Based on an initiative of Prof. Jack Rock from Detroit, USA, a neurosurgical boot camp was launched in Yangon in February 2017 to provide basic hands-on training for young neurosurgeons in the emerging countries of South-East Asia! The teaching contribution from SNI facilitated a unique opportunity for a new generation of local surgeons.

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SNI founder Philippe Schucht appointed as honorary Professor in Yangon

In November 2016, SNI`s Philippe Schucht received an honorary professorship to acknowledge the efforts and impact to improve neurosurgical care in Myanmar, further increasing the collaborations between the medical communities of Switzerland and Myanmar.

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1 year Fellowship for young neurosurgeon from Nepal

In autumn of 2015, Jitendra Thakur of Katmandu, Nepal, has started his 1 year Fellowship to the neurosurgical department of the University Hospital in Bern, in order to acquire new insights into modern day neurosurgery, organized and funded by the Swiss Neurosurgeons International. In November 2016, Jitendra Thakur returned to Nepal to improve neurosurgical care in his home country. 

Educational Visit and Surgical Mission to Yangon and Mandalay, 2016

Dominique Kuhlen, spinal neurosurgeon from EOC Lugano, as well as Christa Schwarz and Philippe Schucht from the university hospital in Bern, visited the university hospitals of Yangon and Mandalay for lectures on brain tumor and trauma surgery, followed by training surgeries for brain tumors, AVMs and trauma.

In addition, the surgical team took care of children and young adults who suffered from Meningoceles, a cerebral malformation common in rural areas of South-East Asia. These patients had been brought to our attention by monasteries in the remote areas of the Rhakine State and Shan State. Micro-neurosurgical repair of the Meningoceles was performed by the SNI surgical team. Thanks to its sponsors, SNI was able to cover all costs of transport of patients (and their mother), surgery and postoperative treatment.

2016 educational visit and surgical mission to Yangon and Mandalay

A Team of SNI experts is to travel to Yangon and Mandalay in autumn of 2016, both for teaching operations with local colleagues and surgeries for young patients with meningoceles.

Scholarships for surgical experts from Yangon General Hospital in autumn 2016

SNI has granted 5 scholarships to neurosurgery, anaesthesia and nursing staff from Yangon General Hospital in 2016. Dr. Sein Win, senior resident of the Department of Neurosurgery, and Dr. Phuy Phuy, neuro-anaesthesia, as well as Dr. Cho Ye Pe Thein, Mai Khin Khin Lay and Su Myat Thu expanded their knowledge in state-of-the-art neurosurgery and OT Management in the autumn of 2016 as guests of the University Hospital in Bern, Switzerland.

2016 Scholarships for promising young doctors from Mandalay, Myanmar

As a support for the neurosurgical department of Mandalay, Myanmar, the Swiss Neurosurgeons International organized and financed fellowships for two promising young doctors. The University Hospital in Bern welcomes Dr. Thida Hlaing, Myanmars soon-to-become first female neurosurgeon, as well as Dr. Zin Ohnmar Kyaw to support their expertise in neurosurgery and neuroanaesthesia.

Surgical Mission to Myeik, Tanintharyi State, Myanmar in February 2015

Myeik, Tanintharyi State, Myanmar

Members of Swiss Neurosurgeons International will travel to the city of Myeik, Tanintharyi State in Myanmar in February 2015, joined by neurosurgeons from the University of Yangon. The aim of the 3-week-mission is to provide neurosurgical operations on-site, to assess the requirements for future neurosurgical collaboration and to advance neurosurgical care through on-going education.

2015 Scholarship

Thanks to the financial support of Johnson&Johnson and Mr. Gracian Anda a scholarship has been granted to Dr. Myat Htun of Yangon University, Myanmar. From the spring 2015 onwards Dr. Myat Htun receives a neurosurgical education at the University hospital in Bern, gaining crucial knowledge that will enable him to improve neurosurgical care in his home country, Myanmar.