Support for the treatment program for Burmese refugees with tuberculosis, Thailand 

Created in 1979, the NGO Aide Médicale Internationale (AMI) is focused on access to treatment for populations excluded from any healthcare system. Today, it supports 30 programs in nine countries (Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Indonesia, Myanmar, Sudan, Thailand, Yemen). These programs help about 2,500,000 beneficiaries.
 

Following the conflicts in eastern Burma, the Burmese civilian populations took refuge in camps in Thailand. These camps present medical risks because of the high population density, the lack of sanitary infrastructures and the constant arrival of new displaced people.

The Mae La camp has the largest number of refugees – over 45,000 have been counted there – and has a very high risk of contagion. In addition to primary healthcare treatment, AMI has implemented a specific action to take tuberculosis patients in charge. These patients, who suffer from an infectious illness are brought together and isolated in the “TB Village” in order to avoid the contagion of their families and the rest of the camp’s population.

In 2011, the AMI wishes to improve care for these patients to increase their comfort and facilitate their acceptance of the treatment by notably reducing the isolation period and strengthening follow-up at home. Once the contagion period is over, the patients go home where they are followed each week by a home visitor who makes sure that the patient follows his daily treatment. They also look after the sanitary situation of the other members of the household.

AMI would also like to improve early detection of the illness by intensifying screening, especially of people with AIDS.

To meet these goals, AMI is strengthening the home visitor team dedicated to the project by the hiring of eight new people and the renovation of a new consultation room. The Air Liquide Foundation is financing this renovation and taking part in the hiring of home visitors.