Surgical Visit to Yangon and Sittwe, Myanmar, November 2014

Sittwe, Osurg, Burma

 

Members of Swiss Neurosurgeons International visited Sittwe in the Rakhine State in Myanmar in November 2014 together with members of the Interplast foundation, performing surgeries on patients with tumors, hydrocephalus and meningoceles at the district hospital in Sittwe and in more complex cases after transport to Yangon at the Neurosurgical Department of Yangon University. SNI thanks the monks of Sittwe`s Monastery for organisation and providing for patients, and the medical staff of Sittwe general hospital and Professor Myat Thu of the Neurosurgical Department in Yangon for medical support. 

Educational Visit to Yangon Unversiy, Philippe Schucht, October 2014

Medical Faculty, University of  Yangon, Myanmar

Insights into state-of-the-art technical adjuncts for brain tumour surgery were given through SNI during the bi-annual Myanmar Surgical Conference in October 2014.

First SNI-Fellowship for a young Burmese Neurosurgeon accomplished

Dr. Aung Thu Soe Minh with his Swiss colleagues during practical exercises on plastified models

Aung Thu Soe Minh (right), accompanied by the Myanmar anaesthesiologist Dr. Aung Kyi

As part of our efforts to support neurosurgical eduction in Myanmar, Dr Aung Thu Soe Minh , neurosurgeon in training at the Neurosurgical Department of Yangon University, was invited by SNI to join the neurosurgical Department of the University of Bern, Switzerland for a 3 months period. During his visit in 2014, sponsored by SNI and Professor Andreas Raabe of the local neurosurgical department, he was able get acquainted with standard-of-care neurosurgical procedures and routines. He returned to Yangon in summer 2014 to share his newly acquired knowledge with his local staff, significantly contributing to the further advancement of neurosurgical care in his home country. 

Fellowship for young burmese resident granted.

With the help of SNI, a young burmese resident in neurosurgery from Yangon General Hospital will travel to the Neurosurgical Department of the University Hospital in Bern on an educational grant provided by Prof. Andreas Raabe, Neurosurgical Chairman.

Educational Visit to Yangon and surgical support to the Bagan area

Members of Swiss Neurosurgeons International visited Myanmar from December 2013 to January 2014 to share neurosurgical expertise and to join burmese neurosurgeons in brain and spine surgeries. In addition, the SNI members joined Interplast surgeons in Bagan for pediatric surgeries.

Future Projects in Yangon and Bagan

Members of Swiss Neurosurgeons International travel for an educational project in February-March 2014 to Yangon in collaboration with Myanmar neurosurgeons to transfer neurosurgical expertise. In addition, neurosurgical care and education for yet untreated children in the area of Bagan is required and will be delivered by the same group.

Visit of Burmese Neurosurgeons to Switzerland

In April 2013 Swiss Neurosurgeons International organised and financed an educational visit of Burmese neurosurgeons to Switzerland. Professor Myat Thu, Chief neurosurgeon from Yangon General Hospital visited with members of his team the University Hospital in Bern to experience Swiss state-of-the-art neurosurgery in an academic setting. The visit provided an opportunity to transfer instruments and to organise further educational fellowships of young Burmese neurosurgeons to Switzerland.

Onsite Assessment in Myanmar

SNI accepted an invitation to visit neurosurgical facilities in Yangon and Mandalay (Myanmar) as well as various trauma centres throughout the country in the spring of 2013. The visit was a milestone in the collaboration with Myanmar and provided educational and surgical opportunities.