Land Mines and Surgical Care

34% of Myanmar's landmine victims are children (AP). We receive civilian patients periodically who have stepped on mines and need emergency care from our hospital and surgical team. Here is a story of one of our recent patients.

Saw Lie, age 43, is a farmer in a nearby village. He knew there were landmines miles away from his farm, but on that day, he had forgotten to be careful while he journeyed to let his buffalo graze. Suddenly, he heard a big explosion and passed out for several minutes. Once he awoke, he found that he had stepped on a landmine and was missing his left leg below the knee, bleeding profusely. He called for help, but there was no one around, so he worked to stop the bleeding by binding his leg together as well as he could manage. Two villagers passed by and found him, carrying him to the nearest small clinic. The clinic gave him some medicine, stopped the bleeding, and dressed the wound. After receiving first aid, he was referred to Earth Mission’s Rain Tree Clinic (RTC). Because of the relentless storms during the rainy season, the road was too bad for vehicle travel. So, the villagers used what we refer to affectionately as a “bambulance,” taking turns carrying Saw Lie in a hammock suspended from a bamboo pole between two people.

After a three day journey, he arrived at RTC. The Physician Associate (PA) who was on duty examined him, changed the wound dressings, and gave him an antibiotic injection and instructed the patient to fast for tomorrow’s operation. The next day, a successful amputation operation was performed on the patient’s left leg, as well as two fingers on his left hand. Saw Lie’s condition improved each day under continuous treatment at our clinic. He received nutritional support due to the loss of much tissue to amputation.

Saw Lie is very grateful to the doctors, PA staff, and students at RTC for their great medical care. He said, “My life would [have] come to an end if I didn’t get treatment from this clinic and this great medical care group. I came to the clinic empty and no family members came with me. But this clinic took care of me very well and I am really not in need even though I am in this situation with no family members. I will never forget this clinic and the people in it.”

Written by EMA staff member