The Cross Border Health (CBH) provides free health care for
refugees, migrant workers, and other individuals who cross
the border from Burma to Thailand. People of all ethnicities
and religions are welcome at the Clinic.
Over the past 13 years CBH has grown, from a small house
that served Burmese pro-democracy students fleeing the 1988
crackdown, to a complex multi-specialty medical centre.
Though exact numbers are difficult to establish because of
the fluidity of our patient population, we estimate that we
serve a target population of approximately 150,000 on the
Thai-Burma border.
Our staff of 5 physicians, 100 health workers, 99 trainees
and 40 support staff provide comprehensive health services
that include: inpatient and outpatient medicine, a surgical
unit, blood transfusions, reproductive health, child health,
eye care, and prosthetics for landmine victims.
We also host interns from local ethnic groups for periods of
three months to one year. CBH trains them to become a new
group of health workers and technicians who will go out to
provide health care within the Thai-Burma border area. In
addition, we support mobile clinics within Burma, at Pa Hite
and Mae La Poh Hta, that provide health services to
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
Our children's home at Umphium Mae Refugee Camp cares for 86
children who have been separated from their parents. Some
are orphaned or abandoned, while others are sent for the
schooling that is not available within Burma. We also
support schools and boarding houses that cater to an
additional 198 children and serve the families of local
migrant workers and our staff. Through the years the clinic
has sponsored women's organizations, health education, and
community awareness events at refugee camps.
CBH Objectives:
- To provide health services for displaced Burmese
populations along the Thailand-Burma border.
- To provide initial training of health workers and
subsequent corollary medical education.
- To strengthen health information systems along the
border.
- To improve health, knowledge, attitudes, and
practices within local Burmese populations.
- To promote collaboration among local ethnic health
organizations.
- To strengthen networking and partnering with
international health professionals and institutions.
