DOCTOR Tin Hla has experienced many disasters but the president of the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) Yangon says the damage inflicted by Cyclone Nargis will stay in his memory forever.

It’s not so much the initial death and destruction that disturbs him but rather coming face to face with the survivors – many of whom are now suffering from mental problems.

“Some elderly people and children have even forgotten their own name and the names of their relatives. It’s really amazing because they aren’t hurt at all and generally in quite good health. Because of the terrifying events when the cyclone hit, they are now hearing voices and are scared whenever they hear loud noises, like lightning strikes,” Dr Tin Hla said.

“They need to get mental health treatment from a proper psychologist as soon as possible. Because most of volunteer medical staff are general surgeons, they can’t treat much as a psychologist can,” said the 73-year-old.

Dr Tin Hla is part of an 8-10 person YMCA medical team based in Kyaiklatt. The team has been visiting villages in that area since May 23. They are now hoping to expand their operations into Pyapone and Dedaye Township within the next month.

It’s mostly made up of volunteers – retired doctors who have many years experience working in the government medical service. Dr Tin Hla has been a doctor since 1963, when he acquired his M.B.B.S Degree at Yangon University’s Department of Medicine.

He says the other relief efforts he has been involved in don’t compare to the Nargis disaster. He was working in Kyaiklatt Township in 1974 when a boat carrying the members of A Nyeint, a traditional dance group, sank in the Ayeyarwady river. Many of the group couldn’t swim and died because there weren’t enough life jackets.

“Also, when there was an earthquake in Sri Lanka in 1979, I volunteered at a hospital there. The victims were obviously badly injured but there wasn’t so many. I’ve lived with these experiences my whole life but still I was shocked when I saw the damage after Cyclone Nargis.”

Dr Tin Hla says he has still been surprised at the resilience of many other victims though he is wary that they may be hiding their medical problems.
“It’s really amazing, I have never seen like that before in my life. All our YMCA medical team was surprised because most people still have a positive mindset, even though they’ve lost nearly all their property. They still have the strong mind – even those who lost a lot of family members right in front of their eyes.”

He says there have been cases of diarrhea and dysentery but not a significant amount and the sick people are being treated. But some are reluctant to seek medical help because they don’t have any money.

“We are trying to counsel people so they know if they are sick they can get help for free. Once they are told this, people come and discuss their problems,” he says.