Nay Pyi Taw, July 13
The Tatmadaw has been providing anti-COVID-19 medicines and medical equipment and supplement nutritious food to specialist hospitals, general hospitals, district hospitals, township hospitals, station hospitals and rural health centres in various parts of the country at the time when infection is occurring.
This morning, families of Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air) donated medical aids for the prevention, treatment and containment of Corona-virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), hospital equipment and supplement nutritious food to Sao San Tun Hospital in Taunggyi.
Present at the donation ceremony were Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Union Minister for Border Affairs Lt-Gen Ye Aung, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, the commander of Eastern Command, the commander of Eastern Central Command, Medical Superintendent of Sao San Tun Hospital Dr Myint Thein and party.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Senior General said it is the fourth donation of COVID-19 prevention, containment and treatment aids, hospital equipment and supplement nutritious food for the hospital. As Myanmar is a developing country, it cannot be sufficient as the developed countries. Even the developed countries are facing a lot of difficulties. The number of COVID-19 positive cases in the world has exceeded 12.8 million at 7 am today. Fortunately, the country has only 331 positive cases. If the infection is high like in the big countries, Myanmar can face a lot of difficulties. The Tatmadaw has been taking preventive measures at public places such as spraying disinfection and conducting sanitation since the outbreak of the virus.
Additionally, it is donating masks and bottles of hand gel that are required in preventing the virus. The Tatmadaw is fulfilling the needs of health staff as lot of requirements were found when the health situation is examined in all military command areas. Moreover, Tatmadaw members and civilian substitute-appointed staff donated their monthly salaries for two times, and over Ks-4.5 billion worth of virus protection aids and supplement nutritious food were presented to hospitals from the donation. Although those donations may not be enough to fulfill all the needs, they are made with the intention of fulfilling the needs to a certain degree. The Tatmadaw is focusing mainly on prevention, but health staffers are the ones who are saving the lives of the people in the front row. So, health staff are recognized and honoured. It is a pleasure for the Tatmadaw as the medicines and protective gear it provided has benefited the people of Shan State in one way or another, the Senior General said.
It is believed that the donated foodstuff is supportive in providing nutritious food to the health staff who are providing medical treating and patients. Mental health may be helpful to physical health. Although the donated food may not be so valuable, it would provide nutrition. These foodstuffs are manufactured by the Tatmadaw for internal and external distribution at reasonable prices. It is believed that the availability of rice and curry at reasonable prices at hospitals for the health staffers to shoulder their duties in a peace of mind will be a spiritual encouragement for them, he noted.
During the outbreak of COVID-19, it is necessary for everyone to be careful about going outside and lifestyle. Although people can go outside with freedom, it is necessary not to undermine the preventive measures. As the disease sometimes does not show symptoms, being careful with lifestyle can prevent the disease. As Taunggyi is the capital of Shan State, it should set a model. As preventive measures are being taken only by departmental staff from the health department, education department and development affairs committees, it is necessary for all to cooperate in the efforts for prevention and control of the disease. In conclusion, the Senior General prayed for an end to the outbreak of COVID-19 and successful performance of duties by the hospital staff.
Then, the Senior General presented COVID-19 preventive equipment and medical equipment including 30,000 surgical masks, 1,200 N 95 masks, 300 face shields, six boxes of sodium hypochloride (20L), 750 suits of personal protective equipment (PPE), 1,500 examination gloves, 350 bottles of hand gel, 350 bottles of hand sanitizer and 500 boxes of OT gown to Medical Superintendent Dr Myint Thein.
Then, Adjutant General Lt-Gen Myo Zaw Thein presented supplement nutritional food items including 808 eggs, 808 packets of Shwe Phi Oo and 808 packets of Nan Myaing Coffee for hospital staff to the medical superintendent.
Afterwards, Medical Superintendent Dr Myint Thein spoke words of thanks, saying he thanked a lot to the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services and families of Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air) for donation of preventive medicines and medical equipment and supplement food items. He said masks were very expensive at the beginning of the outbreak. The hospital has to use about 10,000 masks every month and now has enough masks for three month thanks to the donation of the Tatmadaw. As the hospital treats patients who tested COVID-19 positive, N 95 masks and PPE suits are essential and only when staff are equipped with protective equipment fully, will they be able to treat and take care of patients. The hospital has successfully treated four patients who tested positive for COVID-19 and 28 quarantined patients. Those who tested negative for COVID-19 were transferred to relevant townships.
As the hospital has to send about 300 test samples to Yangon, measures are being taken to test patients at the hospital. In conclusion, he said Sao San Tun hospital is en-couraged and thanked the Tatmadaw for donation of medicine and medical equipment out of the salaries of military service personnel.
Then, the Senior General and party cordially greeted the guests who attended the ceremony.
The Sao San Tun hospital was built by engineers led by Commander Brig-Gen Maung Lwin (B.Sc Engineering) of Rehabilitation Brigade No. 1 to promote friendship between Russia and Myanmar in 1957 with the economic and expertise assistance of the Soviet Union. It cost Ks-4 million to construct all the buildings of the hospital, which was opened in June 1961. The first medical superintendent of the hospital was Dr Sao Naw Hkam and it was the one and only hospital in Shan State at that time. Although the hospital was opened as a 200-bed hospital at first, it was expanded into a 500-bed hospital on 16 December 2015.
