Good Deeds of Burmese Doctors

Good Deeds of Burmese Doctors

Aesclepius B

(An old Burmese doctor)

I say “Sadu, Sadu, Sadu” to the Burmese doctors and other health professionals providing first aids and health care to the Burmese people demonstrating peacefully in Burma from 22^nd to 24^th September. These health professionals are following the footsteps of their fathers, brothers and colleagues who have contributed similar services to the people in times of need in Burma. They have contributed their services in the independence struggles against the British colonialists, Fascist Japanese and the White Chinese (Kuo Ming Tan) invasion of Burma. They also took part in the forefront of the struggles against the self proclaimed crippling BSPP regime of U Ne Win.

Hail to the patriotic Burmese doctors, nurses, health assistants and other health workers of the country.

During the British colonial days, Dr Hla Shwe, younger brother of Bo Let Yar and father of Dr Thar Hla Shwe, the past rector of Institute of Medicine 2, demonstrated against the British in the forefront of students’ column in the “ Htaunt Thone Yar Pyeyh Ah Ye Day Bon ( Burmese Era 1300th Revolutionary Event)”. He was the president of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions (Ba Ka Tha) and Rangoon University Student Union (Ta Ka Tha). His anti-British words were fiery, his demand for independence was daunting, his patriotism was overwhelming. And during the Japanese occupation, he looked after the Burmese patients at the Rangoon General Hospital. He admitted all the Burmese patriots to the RGH who were being looked for by the Japanese Fascists to escape Japanese arrest. Even U Ne Win acknowledged his role in a mass rally in the 1980s.

During the Japanese occupation, many doctors and nurses joined the Burma Army led by General Aung San who was fighting for independence. Dr Maung Maung Gyi, a graduate of the London University, joined the Burma Army Medical Corps (BAMC) as the most senior Burmese doctor. He later became the first Director of the BAMC. Colonel Hla Han, Colonel B.K. Chang, Colonel Yoke Htyang etc were his junior colleagues. They fought against the cruel Japanese fascists and they treated the people who fought against the Fascists. Some Burmese doctors joined the ant-Fascists resistance movement as ordinary fighters like Dr Tun Maung of CPB. General San Yu and Brigadier Maung Maung left the medical school to join General Aung San.

The late Dr Ba Than, the Dean of Rangoon Medical College several times before 1964 and the first Rector of Institute of Medicine 1 and Institute of Medicine Mandalay did not follow the British administration to Simla in India during the Japanese occupation. Instead, he remained in Burma operating the unfortunate Burmese patients at the Rangoon General Hospital. He treated both famous and ordinary people like Gneral Aung San, Thakhin Than Tun, Bo Ne Win and so on. Eventually Bo Ne Win married his daughter, Daw KhinMay Than.

During the time after independence in 1948, Burmese doctors gave their services either as government physicians or private practitioners to serve the people in need. I still remember our Burmese medical doctor working day and night to cope with the huge demands of health care by the rising casualties and increasing population both during the hectic civil war days and in peace intervals.

In the protest demonstrations during the BSPP era from 1962 to 1988, the Burmese physicians and health workers provided emergency services to the protesting populace and students. They provided with essential care during U That’s funeral event, Thakhin Kodaw Hmaing’s centenary demonstration and workers’ strikes in the 1970s. During the 1988 mass demonstrations the Burmese health professionals were in the fore front of the movement both as health care delivers and as leaders of the demonstrations.

Yes, the Burmese medical doctors form a well-respected social stratum in Burma next to the Buddhist monks. They provide not only health care, but education and general knowledge to the public. Therefore they are well respected. They must use this respect correctly by serving the people’s needs. What they need now is democracy, prosperity and freedom. Doctors must give priority to these needs.

It’s heartening to know that people from many strata of life in Burma are coming out in support of the Burmese monks who are demonstrating peacefully for peace and democracy in Burma since the past few days. Writers, artistes, journalists, film stars, comedians and all sorts of professionals are in league with the demonstrating Burmese monks. We see the Burmese doctors, nurses and other health professionals in the vanguard too. Carry on our esteemed health professionals working in tandem with the Buddhist monks. You will gain merits in this life and beyond for these services. They are indeed your good deeds. I say, “Sadu, Sadu, Sadu” to you all. Carry on, move on!

Aesclepius B

(An old Burmese doctor)

25.9.2007