Activities in Mynmar

MEIMONKAI

NGO / Study Association of Traditional Japanese Medicine
c/o Rakurakudo.shinkyuin.WadaBldg.2F.6-14-4Shinbashi.Minato-Ku.Tokyo.105-0004
Tel.Fax.81-3-3459-8341 http://www.meimonkai.com/npo/
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Message from Takeo Katakura, the Representative Director
What always breaks my heart are the problems suffered by human beings. Many remainunsolved, particularly suffering caused by illness.
Even today, in an age of advanced medical science whose benefits cannot all be realized, some problems are still unsolved and new ones have emerged. I thought that there was something that I as a practitioner of oriental medicine could do to help in this area, no matter how small my contribution.
I can contribute to the world by improving my own knowledge and skills, and provide medical services to people, of course, but there is a limit to what one individual can do. Therefore, I decided to train many other practitioners and create a whole movement.
Even if an act is regarded as like watering a desert, I believe that if we persist we can turn the desert into fertile soil where plants grow. This is why I established the Meimon-kai - "meimon" means the "origin of life".

Objectives
The Meimon-kai aims to disseminate appropriate knowledge of traditional medicine used in Traditional Japanese medicine, (particularly acupuncture, moxibustion, Anma massage and Shiatsu) to the public and to the medical practitioners who treat them as patients. We aim to develop specialists and re-evaluate traditional medicine to apply it to modern treatments.
We set out the objectives below in order to promote exchange with students and practitioners of traditional medicine all over the world, to introduce the Traditional Japanese medical techniques and theories used in Japan, if necessary, and also to dispatch medical practitioners to contribute to health and welfare in foreign countries if they ask us to do so.

1. Spreading appropriate information dbout Traditional Japanese medicine
2. Training medical practitioners and lecturers
3. Re-evaluating Traditional Japanese medicine as practised until the Middle Ages and reapplying it to the modern era
4. Exchange of traditional medicine all over the world
5. Volunteer activities in countries where they need them.

History of Overseas Activities (in Myanmar)

1983	Started activities of the Meimon-kai mainly in Japan.
2001 March	Overseas Activities Division inaugurated within the Meimon-kai.
July 25-August 10	Provided technical teaching program at the University of Medical Technology Yangon at their request. (Katakura and Fukasawa)
2002 March 24-April 6	Conducted teaching programs at University of Medical Technology Yangon . (Fukasawa) Arranged donation of medical books to the University of Medical Technology Yangon from the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Kitasato University.
2003 August 3-16	Provided technical teaching program on acupuncture, Shiatsu and Anma massage to traditional medical practitioners at AMDA Center for Training(ACT) in Yangon at the request of AMDA, an international NGO. At the same time gave teaching program at the University of Medical Technology Yangon.(Katakura, Fukasawa ad Takamura) Arranged donation of medical books to the University from the Faculty of Medicine at Yamagata University and Suiran Pharmacy. Arranged donation of needles from Yachiyo Medical to the Department of Traditional Medicine at the Ministry of Heath in Myanmar
2003 December 28-January 4	Provided technical teaching program in moxibustion, Shiatsu and Anma massage to practitioners of traditional medicines at ACT. (Fukasawa and Kimura)
2004 June19-27	Conducted an interview for technical teaching program on moxibustion , Shiatsu and Anma massage for practitioners of traditional medicine in the central dry zone in Myanmar. (Fukasawa and Koizumi)
2004 August 7-22	Provided technical teaching program on moxibustion, Shiatsu and Anma massage to practitioners of traditional medicine in the central dry zone in Myanmar.(Katakura and Fukasawa)
2004 December 27-January 4	Gave teaching program on acupuncture at theUniversity of Medical Technology Yangon . (Fukasawa)
2005 May 1-8	Provided technical teachin program on acupuncture to teaching staff at the University of Traditional Medicine. (Fukasawa)

Future Activities
We will contribute to the health and welfare of the people of Myanmar, working with the universities in Myanmar and the ACT.
1. Through the "Project for Promotion of Acupuncture, Moxibustion, and Shiatsu" under the scheme of JICA's Grass Root Technical Cooperation projects, we will;

-Give technical teaching program on acupuncture, moxibustion and Shiatsu to lecturers at the University of Traditional Medicine ;

-Give technical teaching program on acupuncture, moxibustion and Shiatsu at the University of Medical Technology Yangon and Mandalay ;
-Give technical teaching program acupuncture and moxibustion at the
University of Medicine No.1 and;

-Give technical teaching program on acupuncture, moxibustion and Shiatsu to practitioners of traditional medicine at the ACT ..

2. Independently as the Meimon-kai, we will;

-Give technical teaching program acupuncture and moxibustion to doctors and medical staff and;

-Help practitioners treat patients at the training venue.

Our activities in Myanmar rely on the cooperation of various people from the educational institutes and other organizations concerned, let alone the members of the Meimon-kai. Amongst others, we owe a great deal to those who are concerned with the Myanmar government, JICA and AMDA for their advice and support. May we take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to them.