Welcoming the Burmese Community

by Joan Jeung - GUM Newsletter, Summer 2009

   For decades, ethnic minorities and pro-democracy activists in Myanmar (Burma) have faced oppression from one of the most brutal military dictatorships in the world. Since the UN began its resettlement program for refugees from Burma several years ago, many have resettled to the United States, and hundreds to the San Francisco Bay area. On May 2nd, my husband Russell and I helped to organize a health fair and needs assessment for refugees from Burma living in the Bay area. The event was held at the Oakland Burmese Mission Baptist Church alongside a food fair and workshop series for newly arrived refugees, both organized by the Burmese church. The workshops addressed various health-related topics, ranging from the importance of health insurance to domestic violence prevention. Over 50 adult participants and their children, mostly newly arrived refugees from Burma, were bused in from all around the Bay Area.

   GUM sent volunteer physicians, nurses, and interpreters from Grace Fellowship Community Church (GFCC) and Redeemer Community Church (RCC) to help staff the fair. They joined volunteer pediatricians and staff from Kerry’s Kids, a local non-profit that provides free health care to homeless and other underserved children in the east Bay. Many students from Russell’s public policy class at San Francisco State University also volunteered conducting needs assessment surveys, running games and activities for children, and also taking heights, weights, and calculating body mass index for the health fair. A public health nurse from Alameda County, Kathy Ahoy, assisted me in running the health component.

   From GFCC, nurses Lisa Balzer, Beverly Low, and Theda Wong screened blood pressures for health care participants. Pauline Chau also from GFCC, measured blood sugar levels for those with higher BMI’s. Myo Than, from GUM’s Kaleo ministry, and his daughter helped provide Burmese interpretation. RCC doctors, Ann Kim and Daniela Kim, saw several adult patients, including two who had to be sent immediately to the emergency room. As a pediatrician, I was grateful that adult medical providers were present to assess ill adults, especially those with urgent needs. The whole team did a wonderful job providing care with a smile in crowded quarters and make-shift clinic space in offices and Sunday school classrooms. The Burmese church leaders were quite pleased and thankful for the health fair volunteers and the excellent care they provided for the newly arrived refugees.

   It was a privilege to partner with the local Burmese church in reaching out to this remarkable refugee community that has endured so much. Our heartfelt thanks goes to GUM and the congregational volunteers from GFCC and RCC who joined in this partnership that day.

Joan Jeung, and her husband Russell, are members of New Hope Covenant Church in Oakland’s Lower San Antonio District. See the Photos