08/13/2025
Dear Ko Peter Tan and all,
Good afternoon.
I would like to share with you the recent activities of our Bagan Clinic for the month of July, as well as the celebration of its fourteenth anniversary.
Bagan Clinic was established on August 6, 2011. Therefore, we celebrated its fourteenth anniversary on August 9, 2025.
To commemorate the occasion, we invited monks to perform a blessing ceremony for the health, peace, and safety of our clinic staff, patients, and all concerned individuals.
Following the blessing ceremony on the morning of August 9, we offered meals, robes, and monetary donations to the monks. We also provided free breakfast—including traditional Myanmar food such as Mohinga—to all patients, refugees residing at the monastery, and local villagers.
Since the clinic's opening, we have provided treatment to 336,958 general patients, 2,472 dental patients, 383 surgical patients, and 1,528 patients with eye conditions (treated by an ophthalmologist during 2015–2016). The ophthalmologist performed 11 cataract surgeries during that period. However, she was transferred to Yangon Eye Hospital in 2017, and we have not been able to find a replacement since. Therefore, the number of eye patients has remained unchanged compared to the previous year.
In July 2025 alone, we treated 591 patients, including 549 general patients, 30 dental patients, and 15 surgical patients.
We continue to face numerous challenges—both as a treatment team and for our patients—due to inflation, insecurity, numerous checkpoints, medication shortages, transportation difficulties, and intermittent electricity supply.
We provide free treatment to all religious individuals (monks, novices, and nuns) and to impoverished patients and refugees from unstable and insecure areas.
Special Cases Handled in August
Red Cart Donation:
On August 10, we donated a red cart to a mother whose daughter suffered from a high fever for three days as a 7-day-old infant. The mother was 42 years old at the time of delivery. The daughter is now 2 years and 1 month old but still cannot sit or stand. Her parents have faced many challenges raising her. We provided vitamins, a muscle relaxant, and physiotherapy instructions for lower limb exercises.
Pink Cart Donation:
We donated a pink cart to a teenage mother (18 years old at delivery) who gave birth at seven months’ gestation. Her daughter, born prematurely, required over a month of hospitalization. Now aged 2 years and 5 months, she also cannot sit or stand. We donated vitamins and a muscle relaxant to alleviate lower limb stiffness. Our physiotherapist also guided the mother in administering lower limb exercises.
Goiter Surgery Support:
A 59-year-old woman from Pakokku (approximately 30 miles north of Bagan) had suffered from goiter since the age of 20. The growth had gradually enlarged, affecting her daily life. Although there is a 200-bed hospital in Pakokku, she could not afford the surgery. Her hemoglobin level was 9.8 g/dL before the operation, and she received two units of blood transfusion in preparation.
Anniversary Blessing Ceremony:
On August 9, monks conducted blessings for staff, patients, local villagers, and refugees as part of the clinic's anniversary celebration.
Free Lunch Distribution:
We provided free lunch to patients, their caregivers, and refugees during clinic hours.
Laboratory Services:
Our two laboratory technicians performed blood tests before and after treatment, allowing patients to receive same-day results as part of our one-stop service. In contrast, most external clinics provide results the following day, and urgent results often require additional fees.
Dental Services:
Our dentist treated a young girl with dental problems during this period.
I sincerely appreciate your continued and sustainable support for our Bagan Clinic, especially during these extremely challenging times in Myanmar.
I will keep you updated.
Many thanks and kind regards,
Dr. Hla Tun
