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Akha Heritage Foundation (fwd)
I recently returned from Mae Sai, where I met a very sincere fellow who
is trying to help improve living conditions in the Akha villages of the
Thailand-Burma border region. His name is Matthew McDaniel. He has
established the Akha Heritage Foundation. He wants to extend his operation to
more villages, particularly in Burma. As readers of BurmaNet News are
aware, these villages are among the poorest villages of the border
region. Mr. McDaniel seeks donations of medicine and medical supplies, as
well as financial contributors.
He has provided the following information: "At present there is a need to
get into as many villages as possible and establish a medical contact
with these people, supplying them with the basic things that they are in
need of for life preservation. I have listed below some of the major
illnesses encountered, but the actual need is complex and large."
"The first need the villagers have is to know that someone is working on
their behalf. My work requires that I enter the villages with medical
supplies as often as possible. Secondly, a lot of ailments require lab
support, so it is most efficient for me to travel to a series a villages,
return to a central lab, then go back to my patients with the necessary
medicines. As Akha villages are spread over a vast region, I accrue
relatively high transport and travel expenses."
Mr. McDaniel's list of needed medicine and medical supplies are for the
following illnesses: malaria, TB, head lice, sexually trnsmitted diseases
other than HIV, eye injuires and infections, dysentery, typhoid, scabies,
ear infections, fungus infections and tooth abscesses. His list of
equipment needs is extensive, but his immediate needs include an infant
incubator and monitor, a culture incubator, a centrifuge, an auto clave,
a system for preparing vacuum tubes for taking blood samples, a sterilizer
for boiling hand instruments, and a portable battery-operated fetal doppler.
I spoke with Mr. McDaniels at length and visited his office. He seems
sincere and could certainly use some assistance. If you are interested,
if you know someone who might be interested, or if you can provide him with
some ideas regarding fund-raising, please contact him at The Akha
Heritage Foundation, c/o PO Box 40, Maesai, Chiangrai, Thailand 57130 (FAX
66-53-733-055).