NAY PYI TAW December 18
The Passing-out Parade of the 25th Intake of Defence Services Medical Academy was held at the parade ground of DSMA in Yangon this morning with an address by Chairman of State Administration Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Thadoe Maha Thray Sithu Thadoe Thiri Thudhamma Min Aung Hlaing.
Also present at the ceremony together with the Senior General were wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Admiral Zeya Kyawhtin Htein Win and wife, Commander-in-Chief (Air) General Zeya Kyawhtin Sithu Tun Aung and wife, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief and wives, Union ministers and wives, the Yangon Region chief minister and wife, the Yangon Command commander, the DSMA commandant, officials from Yangon Station, families and relatives of cadets and guests.
First, the Senior General took the salute of the cadet battalions, and inspected the graduation company. The cadet companies saluted the Senior General with slow-march past and quick-march past.
The Senior General presented Best Cadet Award to Cadet Kaung Myint Myat Tun, Excellent Award in Training to Cadet Thaw Zin Oo, and Excellent Award in Studies to Cadet Aung Ko Ko Htet.
In his graduation address, the Senior said DSMA is continuously training and generating medical officer doctors with theaim of bringing about medical expert officers, who have physical and intellectual ability and who are required for Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air). The Tatmadaw medical expert officers are effectively providing healthcare for national people, apart from military officers and other ranks and families.
In addition, they are exerting brilliant efforts in the works for development of medical science for the nation and Tatmadaw. So, their deeds are honourable. Skill and healthcare services of Tatmadaw medical officer doctors is of vital importance for the health and fitness of Tatmadaw members and is a basic requirement for strengthening the Tatmadaw as well as a support for enhancing national defence power. Physical and mental health and fitness is a special requirement for progress of the fighting ability of every combat soldier. Hence, military doctors will have to provide adequate healthcare in every place and at any time, using their skill in medical science.
Today is the age of science and technology. In this regard all are witnessing the daily progress of the field of medical science. On one hand, new and changing therapies and medical equipment are emerging, and on the other, bizarre and mysterious diseases are challenging the medical field. These challenges must be overcome through continuous studies for research on medical science and medical subjects and innovations. The country has already established the National Council for Science, Technology and Innovation, and it is now conducting innovation activities. The country is also setting up connections between new technologies and public healthcare services, health and human resources, medical science universities and conducting integrating multiple treatment techniques and finding new therapies through technological transfer centres and knowledge distribution centres. Starting from the medical sciences learned at the alma mater, they must continue to study advanced medical subjects to become medical scientists of the international level without losing sight of the even advancing technologies and medical sciences.
The SAC has outlined nine key objectives, including the second social goal: “enhancing the nation’s health and sports sectors to ensure longevity and health for all citizens.” To implement this objective, the medical personnel, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, is actively working to improve public healthcare services. To keep pace with international medical forces, medical conferences, seminars, and workshops are being conducted, alongside experience-sharing sessions on military healthcare with foreign experts. Additionally, extensive research is being carried out in line with international standards to stay updated on advancements in medical sciences. He also emphasized that, upon reaching their respective areas of duty, military doctors should excel in their roles, contributing to the development of the nation’s health sector programs while fulfilling their primary responsibilities.
He also emphasized that to become a modern and developed nation, a healthy and strong human resource is essential, making public healthcare critically important. Regarding the health of the people, as the saying goes, “Nothing is more important than human life.” Therefore, the military must ensure the provision of improved healthcare services, safeguarding the well-being and security of the population in all aspects of their daily lives.
Medical personnel must recognize that delivering free healthcare to the public, including medical support during natural disaster relief, is a form of public service with a clear responsibility. It serves as a means of defending the lives and well-being of the population.
In essence, they are fulfilling their duty to defend the nation. Therefore, upon arriving in their respective areas of duty, they must apply their medical knowledge in practice and work diligently and effectively for the benefit of the public.
Just as the development of human resources is essential for building a modern and developed nation, the longterm health of the population is a foundational element for human resource development.
Ensuring an adequate number of qualified specialists, doctors, and healthcare workers is crucial to maintaining the longevity and well-being of the public.
In Myanmar society, doctors are highly respected due to their medical expertise, and military medical officers are also recognized as honorable figures who make sacrifices. Therefore, it is essential to uphold and maintain the dignity of being a military doctor, which has been earned through hard work and dedication. Additionally, as military doctors, they must be prepared to perform operational duties alongside infantry soldiers for the defence and security of the country when required.
They should strive to become military leaders who are adept at following orders and applying their military skills. When carrying out medical duties, they must apply their medical knowledge and treat patients with kindness, a noble spirit, and deep compassion.
Just as they utilize their military knowledge during military and security operations, they must serve with a “spirit of upholding and preserving military traditions through selfsacrifice.” He also encouraged cultivating a similar spirit and striving to become “Brave and Victorious Military Physicians”, capable of assuming future responsibilities in the medical force, responsibilities that both the state and the military rely on, serving as young military doctors and leaders who are both physically and mentally strong.
He urged them, as good medical scientists and officers possessing both physical and mental strength, for the military (Army, Navy and Air), to strive for the state, the military, and the ethnic people. To strive to become expert medical scientists by continuously studying and researching the evolving medical sciences. In line with the motto, “To be healthy and strong to fight,” the military personnel serving in the defence of the country must be healthy and strong and be able to fulfill their assigned duties with the help of their medical expertise. He also stated that everyone should make every effort to enhance the honor of the DSMA, the medical corps, and the military, and to become “Brave and Victorious Military Physician”individuals who are loyal and respectful to the state and its citizens.
Afterwards, the Senior General received a salute from the cadet companies and departed from the parade ground. After the parade, the Senior General delivered an address to outstanding cadets and their parents at the parlour of the DSMA.
In his address, the Senior General said he was proud of the cadets as much as their parents and it was the outcomes of efforts of ambitious selfrestraints with perseverance, diligence and endurance during the entire training course. As cadets were able to sustain their efforts to study academic disciplines at the academy after passing basic education high schools with high grades, they were outstanding and were required to keep the foundation of the momentum in the future journey of life without straying from their ambitions and goals.
As efforts would contribute to more successful lives, they were required to exert efforts and exercise self-restraints consistently not to stray from ambitions and goals. To keep abreast of the times, they were required to read books, practice and share their knowledge. The Senior General urged them tocontribute to the public interests not only with medical science but also with knowledge gained from reading books at places where they were assigned duties.
As they appreciated the gratitude of parents and teachers who took care of and taught the cadets from childhood to the academy, the cadets are required to repay the gratitude of instructors of the academy, the Tatmadaw and the nation by leading the lives of good soldiers and doctors, improving the lives with self-appreciation and performing duties responsibly out of loyalty. In conclusion, the Senior General urged them to try to build successful lives in the future, to be good leaders and ones who can carry out enormous tasks.
