Free healthcare

A TEAM of women healthcare specialists from the Myanmar Medical Association (Yangon) provided free health checkups to local residents in Danubyu Township in Ayeyarwady Division on March 23.

The team of 45 doctors gave free treatment at the township hospital to more than 1200 patients who came from villages in the area.

“Eye diseases – especially cataracts – were the most common ailment among the patients. We checked about 300 people who were suffering from eye problems,” said Dr Khin Mar Aye, the president of the association’s Women’s Section in Yangon.

She said the doctors – who included physicians, gynaecologists, surgeons, paediatricians, rheumato-logists, dermatologists, traditional doctors and eye, ear and throat specialists – donated medicines and eyeglasses to patients who needed them.

“Two surgeons were included in the team so we were able to perform six minor operations. And we found some patients suffering major gynaecological problems so we arranged for them to come to Yangon for treatment,” she said.

The doctors also held a talk on health for teenagers, which was held at the Danubyu basic education high school and attracted about 200 locals, Dr Khin Mar Aye said. – Shwe Yinn Mar Oo

Equipment donation

FOUR local businessmen donated sports equipment valued at K680,000 to the Myanmar Motion Picture Organisation football team at the organisation’s headquarter in Bahan township on March 31.

Packets of energy drink, football shoes, clothing, footballs, shin guards and socks were handed over to organisation president U Myint Thein Pe.

“Actors and actresses can help the public become interested in football. We intend to spread the sporting spirit among the people of the country through actors and actresses,” said one of the donors, U Kyaw Naing, who is also the president of the Kyaw Naing Association. – Cherry Thein

Bridge grant

JAPAN has provided US$85,851 under its grassroots grant assistance program for bridge construction in Mon State, according to a press release from the Japanese embassy in Yangon.

The grant contract was signed last month between Mr Tetsuro Amano, the counsellor and deputy chief of mission at the embassy, and U Chit Win, the chairman of the villages development committee in the area where the bridge will be built.

The money will be used to build a concrete bridge in Paung township. People living along the Gulf of Martaban in Paung township used to rely on a wooden bridge to cross Muehauk Creek. However, the collapse of the bridge has hampered local transport, the statement said.

During monsoon season local residents must now use ferry boats to cross the rain-swollen creek but villagers are inconvenienced by infrequent boat service, capsize accidents and high boat fares, the statement said. – Cherry Thein

Foreign study

NINETEEN Myanmar government staff members left for Japan last month to study under a scholarship program funded by the Japanese government.

The staff members – from ministries including Livestock and Breeding, Science and Technology, and Agriculture and Irrigation – will study Japanese language for six months before continuing on with their respective master’s and doctorate-level studies.

A farewell ceremony for the scholars was held at Chatrium Hotel. One scholar said at the ceremony that he found out in June 2007 that he would be going to Japan on the scholarship program and has studied the Japanese language for about three months in preparation.

“I also had to take a written test in English and have a personal interview with a representative from the Japanese embassy,” he said. – Ni Ni Myint

Novitiation ceremony held

THE staff of the international nongovernment organisation Association Francois-Xavier Bagnoud held a Buddhist novitiation ceremony for the children of HIV/AIDS patients on April 11 at Yathazayaryone Monastery near Shwedagon Pagoda.

Of the 39 boys who were initiated as novices at the ceremony, 31 were the children of HIV/AIDS patients who are given treatment by the association and eight were from a special summer vocational training course for adults run by association.

U Aung Chein, the association’s administrative officer, said it was the second novitiation ceremony held by the organisation. The first was last year.

“Some of our patients are too poor to hold novitiation ceremonies for their children so our staff, in collaboration with other well-wishers, raised the funds to hold a ceremony to fulfil our patients’ wishes,” he said, adding that the association planned to hold similar ceremonies every year. – Khin Myat

Speech contest postponed

The embassy of Japan has postponed its Japanese Speech Contest 2008, originally scheduled for May 24, until June 1, said embassy statement released on April 2.

The contest will be held on the new date from 9am to 1pm at Chatrium Hotel (formerly Hotel Nikko Royal Lake) in Yangon. The deadline for applications has also been extended to April 28.

For further information, interested people can call the Information and Culture Section of the Japanese embassy in Yangon at 549-644~8. – Khin Myat

Traders hosts bridal fair

TRADERS Hotel in Yangon will host its ninth bridal fair on May 1 from 10am to 5pm, showcasing traditional and modern wedding attire for brides and grooms.

The fashions will be shown by celebrities including Rebecca Win, Nann Hsu Yati Soe, Pearl Win, Thinzar Wint Kyaw, Zin Zin Zaw Myint, Aung Ye Linn and Moe Aung Yin, as well as by models from the Talents and Models agency.

The bridal fair will also feature 25 booths displaying wedding gowns, jewellery, photo studio services, gifts, cosmetics and other wedding accessories. – Pan Eiswe Star