Teams of church volunteers to offer medical care, moral support

Published: 2008-05-14

YANGON, Myanmar (CNS) -- Small teams of doctors, nurses and volunteers organized by the Catholic Church in Myanmar have been visiting cyclone-affected areas to offer medical care. A team of 40 began visiting parishes in the Archdiocese of Yangon May 12 to offer moral support and medical care and to gather data on people's needs and the extent of the damage from Cyclone Nargis, which hit southern Myanmar May 3. Father Noel Naw Aye, archdiocesan project coordinator, told the Asian church news agency UCA News May 14 that "this medical group will help with severe illness, injuries and treat cholera." Another church team of a priest, a doctor and some youth volunteers set off for Labutta, a devastated Irrawaddy delta area in the Pathein Diocese, about 100 miles southwest of Yangon. Father Naw Aye said this team also will offer medical treatment and deal with other needs, depending on the situation.

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