National APAMSA stands in solidarity with medical students and healthcare workers in Myanmar.
It has now been nearly two months since the Myanmar military executed a coup d’etat to overthrow the country’s democratically elected government, prompting widespread peaceful protests demanding a return to democracy and a civil disobedience movement (CDM). CDM is a no recognition, no participation movement against the military junta consisting of nationwide protests and labor strikes.
Myanmar’s health workers and professionals in particular—many of whom have been leading CDM —have been systematically targeted by the military. Many health workers have been kidnapped in night raids, detained arbitrarily, or forced into hiding after the military has presented spurious charges against them. According to the World Medical Association, “private clinics, medical personnel carrying out emergency treatment and ambulances have been shot at without any reason.”
Even more concerning is the increasing and deliberate assaults on medical students by security forces. Young Myanmar medical students have marched relentlessly since February despite escalating crackdowns which have led to scores of students being detained at great risk to their wellbeing. Medical students are also dying at the hands of the military. March 14 saw the bloodiest assault on civilians to date with an estimated 94 individuals confirmed dead. Among those slain was Khant Nyar Hein, a 17-year-old first-year medical student from Mandalay who succumbed from a headshot wound.
National APAMSA has joined with our colleagues at White Coats for Myanmar Human Rights, co-signing a letter to the International Federation of Medical Students Association urging them to speak out against the human rights violations the Myanmar military is committing against the people of Myanmar, and in particular toward fellow healthcare workers and medical students.
How can you help?
-
Join White Coats for Myanmar Human Rights on April 19th for a webinar “Protecting the Right to Health in Myanmar.”
Registration: https://jh.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xcbaCYD7R4i9zsX0PelF-A. -
Directly support emergency medical needs by donating to: https://givebutter.com/JYXD52. There is over $200K worth of emergency medical supplies and services needed for wounded individuals across Myanmar.
-
As our fellow colleagues persist tirelessly on the frontlines, please join medical students across the globe on April 26th for #whitecoatstrike by posting a photo of you with a three finger hand “Hunger Games style” hand salute like so:
And using the following caption (with a personal twist!):
I stand with my fellow healthcare colleagues in Myanmar as they battle at the frontlines against the military junta. To support emergency medical needs on the ground, please consider donating to: https://givebutter.com/JYXD52.
#WhiteCoatStrike #CivilDisobedienceMovement #SaveMyanmar #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar #GM4MD
After April 26th, check @gm4md on Instagram for a photo album/collage of your photos!