The Karen Department of Health and Welfare (KDHW) under the Karen National Union (KNU) has set down future plans to upgrade the health system within the year during its year-end meeting, which was held at the Thai-Myanmar border on February 12-15.
P’doh Saw Eh Ka Lu Shwe Oo, head of the KDHW, told KIC News that the health system upgrade programs have been set down for implementations in respective districts and townships within 2018. These programs include health-related tasks that must be carried out within the next four years.
He explained that the health system will be upgraded by assigning duties under the topics of health management, service, building, health worker resources, finance, and health information.
He continued that programs will be drafted and implemented.
He added that the KDHW will cooperate with health groups under Karen ethnic armed organizations such as the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), the Border Guard Forces (BGF), the Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army – Peace Council (KNU/KNLA – PC) and border health organizations such as the Burma Medical Association (BMA), the Back Pack Health Worker Team (BPHWT), and the Mae Tao Clinic in upgrading the health system within the year.
During the four-day year-end meeting, respective districts and townships discussed the health services that have been carried out within the year and the health-related tasks and managements set down by the KDHW Central. Then, the KDHW reviewed the health policy and set down future plans.
Around 50 people including the KDHW Central, health officers-in-charge from seven districts and 25 townships, some non-governmental organizations, and health officials from the DKBA, the BGF, and the KNU/KNLA – PC attended the meeting.
The KDHW is one of the 14 departments under the KNU, which was established in 1956. The department has been providing healthcare and relief services to rural residents and internally displaced residents (IDPs) in the Karen State for many decades.
