JAPANESE organisation The Nippon Foundation last week donated 500 emergency traditional medicine kits to villages in Bago Division.

The kits, valued at US$10 each, contain a thermometer, bandages, digestive tablets, muscle pain liquid, disinfectant and a handbook that explains how to use everything correctly.

Nippon Foundation chairman Mr Yohei Sasakawa said Myanmar traditional medicine has a good reputation and the emergency kits would be useful for villages located far from township hospitals or rural health centres.

Among those who received a kit on October 25 was U Mya Thaung, a representative from Myinsakwat village, a village of about 60 households located one hour from Minhla in western Bago division.

“As we now have a traditional medicine box, we can cure minor diseases by ourselves and we only need to go to the township hospital when there is a severe problem,” U Mya Thaung said.

Mr Sasakawa said the donation was part of a three-year project that commenced in 2008. The foundation had already distributed 1500 boxes in Yangon, Sagaing and Ayeyarwady divisions before last week’s activities.

Ma Win Win Thein from Ohne Hne Kone village in Hlegu township, Yangon Division, received a traditional medicine kit donated to her village in February 2009.

“The people from the village come to my home and use the medicine when they feel sick or unwell. They then contribute money to buy medicine to refill the box. Since it was given to us in February we have bought new medicine three times,” she said, adding that the kit is given to a person who has basic knowledge about medicine.

The Nippon Foundation was founded in 1962 as a non-profit philanthropic organisation and has implemented health, education and human resource development programs in Myanmar since 1974.