Dr. Kyaw Zayar Min has been working as a dentist for Artemed Stiftung on the floating clinic "Polli" in the Irrawaddy River Delta for several years. Today he tells us in an interview about his everyday life and the challenges on the ship.

Artemed Stiftung (AS): Dr. Kyaw Zayar Min, what does a typical working day look like for you?

Dr. Kyaw Zayar Min (KM): My typical working day starts at 8:00 am and ends at 5:00 pm. However, the schedule may vary due to patient location and emergencies. Sometimes patients have to wait on small boats until there is enough space on the polli. We also deal with emergencies such as abdominal pain, high fevers, ear injuries and dental problems. We have two general practitioners and a dentist on our Polli who look after the daily patients.

AS: How would you describe your working environment?

KM: Our team on the Polli consists of the crew team and the medical team. The crew is responsible for ensuring the safety of the patients and organizing the journey to the destination villages. They work alternately Tag and at night, greeting and supporting the patients and taking turns at night to look out for emergencies and weather conditions.

The medical team, consisting of doctors and nurses, provides medical care every day, 23 days in a row.

In the evenings, both teams come together to clean our clinic and the premises. Overall, there is a very pleasant working atmosphere and we all get on well together.

AS: What challenges do your patients face?

KM: The villages around Pyapon and Bogale are mostly located along the banks of the river and far away from larger towns. There are therefore no hospitals nearby, only rural pharmacies or small surgeries. As a result, many villagers do not receive adequate medical care. In addition, the economic situation of many families has worsened after the COVID-19 pandemic and the military coup. People are struggling with financial and health problems on a daily basis. Most villagers have to travel to urban areas by small boats or motorcycles, which can be expensive and time-consuming. Many parents can no longer afford to send their children to school, especially secondary schools. Instead, they often send their children to work in factories or stores to support their families. The people in these areas are therefore very grateful for the easy access to appropriate treatment at Polli and are very satisfied with our work.

AS: What are your biggest challenges?

KM: One of my biggest challenges is to offer patients health education alongside acute treatment. For example, there are some who chew betel nut* out of habit, which can lead to major dental problems and oral cavity cancer. Unfortunately, many neglect oral hygiene completely anyway or only clean their teeth when showering. They often use unconventional methods such as charcoal, baking powder or salt instead of toothbrushes and toothpaste. Some patients suffer from bleeding gums when brushing their teeth. Even children come to us with tooth decay caused by excessive consumption of sugary foods and drinks. Overcoming these challenges and ensuring that patients understand the importance of oral hygiene and general health is an important task.

AS: What appeals to you in particular about this task?

KM: I have a deep passion for my profession because it allows me to help meet the needs of patients with poor oral hygiene and dental problems, especially those in pain. Bringing relief and working preventively through health education gives me the greatest satisfaction. A smile as an expression of gratitude from the many people who come to us is the driving force behind my dedication to this profession.

AS: What is your vision for the future?

KM: As a non-profit organization, our vision is to provide our patients with comprehensive psychological, spiritual, physical, educational and financial support. We strive to improve their overall health and extend their lifespan and, above all, improve their quality of life. The goal of our mission is to bring light into the darkness with our Polli and to give people hope. My wish would be to continue to keep our Polli mission as efficient as possible and, supported by our generous donors, continue to make a positive impact.

*The betel nut is consumed as a drug in some Asian countries. Consumption leads to a feeling of well-being and has a similar effect to alcohol. It has a very high potential for addiction. The substance acts quickly, and the components of the betel mixture are also highly carcinogenic. In Myanmar the betel nut is a legal intoxicant