Defiance Amid Persecution:  

The Resilience of Myanmar’s Health Workforce

This seminar is an online event via Zoom

Date: August 26, 2024 (Monday)  

Duration: 1 hour

Time: 06:00 – 07:00 PM AEST Time (02:30-03:30 PM Myanmar/Yangon Time)

Join Zoom Meeting: please click here 

Meeting ID: 876 7198 7278

Passcode: 824635

The recent coup in Myanmar has caused significant disruption to the country’s health system, resulting in a collapse of services. In this presentation, we will examine how health workers are responding to this crisis with innovative initiatives to provide essential health services in the face of political persecution. Despite challenges, Myanmar’s health workforce has demonstrated remarkable resilience in the face of adversity. We will explore a case study of a capacity-building training program for health workers in conflict-affected areas at the School of Health, Spring University Myanmar, as an example of this resilience. Join us as we delve into the ways in which Myanmar’s health workforce is giving hope in the midst of crisis.

Speaker

Phyu Phyu Thin Zaw is a Myanmar-Australia Visiting Fellow at both the University of Melbourne and the Australian National University. She is a medical doctor, epidemiologist, and lecturer at the University of Hong Kong. Phyu Phyu obtained her MBBS degree from the University of Medicine Mandalay, completed her Master of Public Policy degree at the Blavatnik School of Government, Oxford University, and earned her PhD in Epidemiology from Prince of Songkla University, Thailand. She also got her postdoctoral training as a WHO fellow at Asia Health Policy Programme at Stanford University, USA.  Dr. Phyu Phyu identifies herself as a pracademic, bridging the gap between academia and the practical field. 

In addition to her academic work, Phyu Phyu serves as the Head of the School of Health at Spring University Myanmar and is a board member of One to One Campaign, which supports the ‘Healthcare Provision and Livelihood Support Project in conflict-affected regions.’ She is also a member of the ‘Steering Committee, Science in Exile Initiatives’ at The World Academy of Sciences, UNESCO, advocating for science in conflict-affected countries. Prior to her academic career, Phyu Phyu gained substantial experience in health system strengthening while working for the Ministry of Health and Sport in Myanmar for 12 years.

Questions and Answers will follow the presentations.