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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).