Here is a bizarre note from Bhutan that says Myanmar (likely Burman) doctors are going to be sent to Bhutan to help Bhutanese develop their health care system.
The moderator hopes that "Refrain from unprotected casual sex wherever possible but use condom if at all sex cannot be avoided" sounds better in Dzongkha than it does in English.
[him] moderator
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Health promises on track
10 October 2008
Many of the Druk Phuensum Tshogpa’s (DPT) promises for the health sector are on the right track, according to the Health Minister, Lyonpo Zangley Drukpa, who is on his first visit to his constituency in Pemagatshel since the election.
The Lyonpo told the people that, as an interim measure, the recruitment of specialists from Myanmar and UN Volunteers had already begun. He said Myanmar had agreed to send 30 specialists, and 16 UN volunteers are due to arrive in the country soon. The recruitment of retired medical and health professionals from within the country is also underway, the Lyonpo said.
“The establishment of a medical college in Thimphu with assistance from the government of India is also in the pipeline,” the Lyonpo informed the people. “Royal Institute of Health Sciences will be upgraded to a college of nursing and public health.”
One of the DPT’s election promises was to man all the district hospitals with at least three doctors, including a gynaecologist, and provide two ambulances.
Ambulances do not come by cheap, though, according to the minister. Equipping hospitals with two ambulances each costs anywhere between Nu 2.5 to 4 million. “The government is, however, making every effort to deliver the promises,” he said.
The Lyonpo said Gelephu and Trongsa district hospitals have already received one ambulance each. “We will soon receive two more from the World Health Organisation, one of which is for Pemagatshel hospital,” he announced.
The minister promised to strengthen the district hospitals so that referrals are minimised. He also promised to provide 100% coverage of safe drinking water to the people. The minister said a quality, productive life was one of the prerequisites to achieving the objective of GNH. To this end, he said, doctors will make mandatory visits to Basic Health Units and Outreach Clinics to make sure that quality medical care is accessible to the needy ones.
Cautioning the people against HIV/AIDS, the Lyonpo said Pemagatshel was one of the 15 dzongkhags with HIV positive cases. “Refrain from unprotected casual sex wherever possible but use condom if at all sex cannot be avoided,” he said.
By Gyambo Namgyal
http://www.bhutanobserver.bt/2008/bhutan-news/10/health-promises-on-track.html
