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I will be in Myanmar in November with colleagues to deliver mental health training to the general practitioners, the primary care physicians at the frontline. My time there coincides with the Bagan Temple Marathon (BTM) which I wanted to participate in since I came to know about it. The challenges for me are my lack of previous experience in running and my hectic schedule delivering training in different cities across the country during my limited time there.

I have heard about the community mental health clinics initiated and successfully run by psychiatrist colleagues in Yangon over past 3 years. Prior to this initiative, patients with mental illness from any part of the country had to come to Yangon for their follow up reviews. It means that they had to bear the burden of costly travel, loss of income and impact on their family members. Those once/twice monthly clinics in 3 townships around Yangon provide outpatient mental healt care to more than 100 patients at each site at a time. It has helped patients adhere to their treatment as well as seek help early either for the first episode or relapse of their illness, reducing hospital admissions and stressful disruption to their lives. So far, these clinics have been funded entirely with donations from the public and wellwishers. 

Such a coincidence in the timing of the BTM and my trip to Myanmar made me commit to this challenge and raise funds for a good cause which I have been promoting since 2012. Of course, my efforts will be rewarded and my aim achieved only with your generous donations/ sponsorships. Thank you so much for your support. 

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