The UK based Merlin with 19 health workers arrived in ThanTlang Township, Chin state on July 1. They have started to provide heath care and health education awareness to local villagers.

The Merlin group launched a health education awareness programme in the ThantTlang Association Baptist Church (TABC) hall for five days from July 25 to 30. They gave all the participants Kyat 3,500 (US $ 2.734) a day and distributed medicines for Malaria worth over Kyat 30,000 (US $ 23.435) to each participant.

The participants from villages of ThanTlang Township were divided into three groups. In one group there were villagers from 30 villages and the training was provided on the basis of groups in a grouping system.

"The people are very happy. In times of hardship in earning a livelihood they have received free medicines for Malaria and some money for the trainees," said a local from ThangTlang.

The ruling military junta has not undertaken any health educational awareness programme or bothered to distribute medicine to locals in Chin state.  People are delighted to receive health education training and medicines from Merlin, he added.

Moreover, Merlin has set up an office in ThanTlang town to monitor civilian health problems effectively and is undertaking field checks on the health condition of the people from villages.

In Chin State not only is Merlin operating but there is also UNDP and UNICEF staff members working in the health, education and agricultural sectors.

The Chin Backpack group based on the Indo-Myanmar border provides health check up, medicines and health education to people living in remote areas of Chin state.

The Merlin, International Charity group was established in 1993 in Britain. – KNG.