THE ISSUE
Access to healthcare is a major concern for Burmese migrant workers in Thailand. Although there are some systems in place to help registered migrants gain access to the country’s health care system, those who are undocumented or who live in isolated areas depend on FED, whose healthcare resources are stretched thin.
Even though 97% of Thai citizens are insured through a government program, only about 50% of migrants in Phang Nga know that they are insured. The immunization rate in Phang Nga is just over 90% for Thai children under 5, but only 60% of migrant parents report that their children are fully vaccinated. Rates of mosquito-borne diseases and HIV are substantially higher for migrants than Thai citizens, and working in 3D jobs leads to frequent work injuries.
OUR COMMITMENT
Since 2005, FED has been addressing the short and long-term health needs of Burmese migrants in the Phang Nga province of Thailand. Burmese migrants face many barriers when accessing their right to health: Language, transport to healthcare facilities, inability to purchase insurance, and poor health literacy.
In order to support migrants through the continuum of care, FED Health runs a variety of projects. The dedicated members of this team work in learning centers, in communities, at healthcare facilities, and coordinate with NGOs across Thailand and Myanmar to provide holistic care.
Health education at migrant learning centers start children on the right path.
Workshops in communities give adults and out-of-school youth and children a chance to learn necessary skills to prevent and respond to preventable diseases, unplanned pregnancies, and work accidents.
Our translators at hospitals and clinics not only translate, but advocate to make sure that migrants can receive the care they deserve, even if they have poor language skills.
Our Community Health Volunteers provide first aid, primary care, and referrals to migrants in isolated communities all over Phang Nga.
Support group meetings and long-term care for migrants with life-long illnesses give patients safe spaces and mental health support that is not available through any other program now.
Our will work to provide equitable patient-centered care for vulnerable migrants until the right to health is a reality.
Latest Healthcare Highlights
Migrant Student from FED Learning Center suffers from a brain tumor
Thet Mon Myint (9) from FED Learning Center suffers from a brain tumor Thet Mon Myint, a 9 years old grade 3 student from our Unified Learning Center is suffering from a severe headache [...]
Visiting a friend with HIV in Myanmar
Visiting a friend with HIV in Myanmar. Tin Ko Ko was one of our HIV patients that the FED Health team took care of in 2008. He came to Thailand in 1989, at that [...]
FED assists Burmese migrant worker with liver cirrhosis
FED assists Burmese migrant worker with liver cirrhosis A male migrant worker named U Khing, 61 years old, has been working in Thailand for over 30 years. At the moment he lives in Tongkamin, [...]
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