WHO-supported local health partners deliver life-saving care, psychological first aid in quake-hit Sagaing

Sagaing Region, Myanmar | 17 April 2025 – “He approached the health team and, overwhelmed by grief, broke down in tears.”

That’s how one health worker described a devastating moment in the days following the magnitude 7.7 and 6.4 earthquakes that struck Myanmar on 28 March. The man had lost seven members of his family. All the health worker could offer was psychological first aid – listening, staying with him, bearing witness to the pain.

“This kind of encounter is not rare,” the health worker said. “Every day, we listen to people’s pain. Sometimes, just listening helps – but it also takes a toll on us as frontline workers.”

To date, more than 3600 people across Myanmar are confirmed dead. An estimated 4800 are injured and almost 150 remain missing. The UN estimates that over 17.2 million people live in affected zones, with 9.1 million exposed to the strongest tremors, and about 2.4 million in need of health care.

Sagaing Region – located in the country’s north-west and riven with conflict – is among several of the regions hardest hit, along with Mandalay Region, Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory and southern Shan State. There, villages were flattened. Roads, schools and health services were damaged or destroyed. But amid the destruction, WHO-supported local health partners continue to deliver essential care to displaced communities with no other options.

WHO has so far mobilized almost 140 tonnes of medicines, medical devices and supplies from within Myanmar and from global stockpiles. This can meet the basic health needs of an estimated 450 000 people for around three months.

The bulk of the supplies has already been delivered to local, on-the-ground partners operating in exceptional conditions – delivering babies in makeshift shelters, conducting emergency surgeries amid searing heat, and ensuring effective, ongoing management of chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.

Some health partners have enough stock for now – but only just. A WHO health partner in Sagaing estimates they have about 20 days’ worth of supplies left under current conditions. Logistics remain a critical challenge. With roads damaged and transport prices soaring, it has become both costly and time-consuming to restock from Mandalay, the nearest major city.

Health needs continue to grow. Acute watery diarrhoea has been reported. Risks of malaria, dengue, TB, HIV and vaccine-preventable diseases are rising – especially in places like Sagaing, where only 6 of 37 townships have adequate coverage of the pentavalent 1 vaccine, and 22 townships fall below 50% coverage for measles-rubella vaccine.

Noncommunicable disease patients – those who rely on daily medication – are also at serious risk if supply chains buckle, or appeals go unfunded.

“This is not just a natural disaster – it’s both an acute and chronic health emergency, layered on top of an already protracted humanitarian crisis,” said Dr Thushara Fernando, WHO Representative to Myanmar. “Our partnerships with local health teams allow us to reach patients who would otherwise have nowhere to go. For the efforts of our partners, we are immensely grateful.”

In addition to supporting local health partners, WHO has deployed and is coordinating 14 WHO-classified Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs) – a core WHO function in acute health crises. The EMTs have since provided life-saving emergency and primary care, conducted rapid health assessments, and supported local health authorities to manage the influx of patients.

The emotional burden on health workers is immense. Many are beginning to show signs of mental fatigue after weeks of intense service. But they keep showing up – listening, treating, carrying supplies and trying to hold the line.

WHO is urgently appealing for US$8 million to continue to deliver critical health assistance where it is needed most. The WHO Foundation’s Myanmar Earthquake Appeal continues to raise urgent funds from individuals, businesses and philanthropic institutions. Visit https://www.emergencies.who.foundation/ to learn more or donate.

In places like Sagaing, the emergency is far from over. But for now, the health workers remain – tired, steady and still listening.