In the six months since Cyclone Nargis devastated Myanmar, Ms. Chiyuki Yoshida has been involved in relief and recovery interventions and now shares her experience.

The Ayeyarwady delta, the most devastated area, looks like a city on the water with the Ayeyarwady river running through it. Waterways and rivers stretch over the area in a mesh pattern, cutting across villages. People use boats for their transportation.

I took eight hours to travel from Yangon to Bogale in the Ayeyarwady Division through rough roads, and then proceeded further by boat after arrival in Bogale. I was carrying medical relief supplies from the Japanese Red Cross Society. To keep the balance of this small boat, we distributed the supplies evenly on the boat, which also accommodated 15 other people. The dock was so muddy that my boots gradually sank in the mud like a bottomless swamp.

Thatched roof

The surface of the river, mangrove trees and scattered villages were seen from the boat. Most of the houses that we saw from the boat were covered with blue or white plastic sheets. "As children are scared of the noise of the rain drumming onto the plastic sheets, saying that the cyclone will come again, I am thinking about placing thatch on the ceiling," said Moeh Moeh Lay, as she knits a grass-made mattress.

Houses in this area are built with bamboos and grasses, which protect against heat during the daytime. It is uncomfortable inside the house if the roof is covered with plastic sheets, which also creates noise and humidity. I felt it was urgent to build housing or simple frame houses where children could live peacefully.

Soon after we arrived at Bogale, we went to the Bogale Hospital with the medical supplies. The hospital has about 50 beds and can conduct simple microscopic exams, X-ray exams and minor surgery. The director of the hospital, Dr. Hla Hla Kyi, thanked the Japanese Red Cross for the medical support, which will be delivered to healthcare facilities where midwives work for villagers. The hospital staff and patients said they started saving electricity due to a series of blackouts and expensive fuel expenses for the power generator. I felt like saying, "hats off to you".

Health education

On the following day, we accompanied the healthcare team led by the Myanmar Red Cross chapter that was conducting hygiene education for primary school children in the village. It took one hour to get there by small boat. The primary school was a 30-minute walk from the village monastery, where 50 children were studying. Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) volunteers have been educating the students continuously on how to use mosquito nets and hygiene kits, as well as on hand-washing techniques.

"I got mosquito nets, canned fish, plastic sheets and a water container from the MRCS," said a boy proudly, as he showed me his goods. When I advised an elderly woman to use the mosquito nets instead of just keeping them, she replied, "I really appreciate, but I am ashamed to use them."

I told her that if the mosquito nets are not hung up, they will not have an effect. I stressed the need for the nets to be used at all times while sleeping and especially when malaria is rampant. Then finally I managed to persuade her to open and use the mosquito nets.

Healthcare services

In addition to hygiene education, we are planning to take measures to cope with water shortage and installing latrines in preparation for the dry season.

"This village has no midwife so the regular mobile healthcare services provided by the MRCS are most welcome," commented Dr. Haymae Soe Tint, a young female doctor.

The MRCS and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies continue to pursue the recovery support for 100,000 affected households, including delivery of relief supplies, temporary housing and livelihood aid, safe water supply and sanitation/health promotion.

The small Red Cross Red Crescent boat continues to go from village to village, greeted by a pleasant breeze from the Ayeyarwady river.