The Humpty Dumpty Institute, for which Connie Milstein serves as Chairman Emeritus, has recently launched an 18-month pilot program that will provide the population of Myanmar (Burma) with Survivors Assistance and Mine Risk Education programs. The HDI has partnered with the Sitagu Association, the largest Buddhist humanitarian organization in Myanmar, for this endeavor, which will be funded by the U.S. Department of State, Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement.

Myanmar is among few other countries in dealing with the severe landmine problems that continue to plague the country today, a problem that is neither well-known nor well-researched. While it is known that landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) in the country are concentrated mostly along its border with Thailand, and to a lesser extent on its borders with Laos, China and Bangladesh, the figures that are available indicated that mine accident rates in Myanmar are among the highest in the world.

HDI president, Ralph L. Cwerman, said the program’s primary goal “is to build local capacity among the medical staff of the Sitagu hospital network in order to treat physical and psychological injuries of the Burmese, especially children.” He added that “strenuous efforts would be made to educate as many villagers as possible about the danger of landmines and unexploded bombs and how to avoid being injured.”

To achieve the program’s goals of safety and awareness, the Humpty Dumpty Institute will establish teams of health and education professionals that will regularly visit various hospitals around Burma to train the hospital staff in the fields of prosthetics and psychological trauma. The hospitals will also host a series of mine risk education workshops for local village leaders living in and around areas that are highly contaminated with mines. As a broader goal, the HDI plans to develop partnerships with various local and international mine action NGOs to help deliver prosthetics, medicines and other needed equipment to doctors and hospitals within Burma by utilizing the Sitagu Association and its network.