As part of our year out (we swear it's not a holiday...) we've been volunteering at the Mae Tao Clinic on the Burmese border of Thailand. The clinic was set up in 1989 by the inspirational Dr Cynthia Maung, herself a Burmese refugee, who recently received the US Democracy Award. The clinic provides free healthcare to over 150,000 displaced and impoverished Burmese people every year, some of whom travel for many days to get here. Whilst facilities are basic, the staff are warm-hearted and enthusiastic, and provide excellent care with very limited resources.

One of the best things about this clinic is its emphasis on training and sustainability. On completion of their training at Mae Tao Clinic, a large cohort of medics and community heath workers return to their communities inside Burma to work. The clinic also runs a school for orphans and the children of displaced families.

Mae Tao Clinic runs entirely on donations and foreign aid. With the recent Burmese government reforms, a lot of aid has been re-chanelled away from the border regions and into Burma itself, resulting in a 50% drop in funding to the clinic this year. However, patient attendances at the clinic have not changed, necessitating cuts in services. For example, newly diagnosed diabetics can no longer be offered treatment.

Read more about the clinic here: http://maetaoclinic.org/

So how does climbing Kilimanjaro fit in?

We love the clinic so much we're willing to risk cerebral oedema scaling Africa's highest peak (5895m/19,341 ft), starting on the 11th January 2013, in order to raise funds. You're probably thinking that our shared love of physical exertion and healthy food will make this a doddle, but make no mistake, it will be tough, even for us fitness fanatics. So please help spur us up the mountain by donating to Mae Tao Clinic through their UK-linked charity, the KRCWDG. All donations of any size are welcome!  Thank you  :-)

Tom and Naomi Xx

 

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