Thailand: Making a Difference

THAILAND: MAKING A DIFFERENCE (with RC Chiang Mai Airport)
 
Meghan Jenkins, a 4th year Meds student at Queen's, returned from a month-long field rotation at the Mae Tao Clinic (MTC) in Thailand in September and presented her experiences to K-F Club members and, by video link, to the Chiang Mai Airport Rotary Club (CMARC) in Thailand.
 
Meghan’s work focused on improving healthcare quality and outcomes in low-resource settings, with particular attention to pediatric and maternal health. While at the Mae Tao Clinic, she studied neonatal mortality and provided evidence-based recommendations for enhancing care.  Based on her work and together with CMARC & MTC, a project for "Improving Neonatal Outcomes at the Mae Tao Clinic" was developed by the K-F Rotary Club and submitted to District 7040 for a Rotary Foundation district matching funds grant.  This project received Rotary Foundation approval in August 2025 and is currently ongoing.
 
 
Project: "Improving Neonatal Outcomes at the Mae Tao Clinic"
Budget: US$ 15,376
 
This project focuses on strengthening the quality of maternal and newborn care at Mae Tao Clinic by investing in essential infrastructure and sustainable training.
  1. Renovation and Equipment Upgrade of the Reproductive Health Inpatient Department 
    - The Reproductive Health Inpatient Department (RHIPD) at Mae Tao Clinic serves a high volume of marginalized and undocumented patients along the Thai-Myanmar border. The current infrastructure is outdated, and staff lack access to some of the most basic medical equipment. District Matching Grant funds will be used to purchase and install essential equipment from a predetermined list, set out by a Kingston-Frontenac sponsored Queen’s medical student, Meghan Jenkins, and Dr. Li Li Sumyat, the staff obstetrician gynecologist at the Mae Tao Clinic:
    • CPAP Machines
    • Incubator
    • Infusion Pumps
    • Amni Hooks
       
  2. Capacity Building Through On-Site Training
    - Once the equipment is procured, Dr. Li Li Su Myat, a senior physician and department lead at Mae Tao Clinic, will run a structured training series for medics and midwives. This will include:
    • Demonstrations on correct use and maintenance of each item
    • Protocol integration for emergency response using the new tools
    • Training materials in Burmese and Thai for ongoing reference
    • Skill assessments to ensure competency

      Dr. Su Myat will also identify "equipment champions" within the team to take responsibility for long-term maintenance and peer training.
       
  3. Sustainability and Future Impact Assessment
    - To evaluate the long-term impact of this intervention, the senior medical student at Queen’s University moving to the University of Ottawa for further Obstetrics and Gynecology training, will collaborate with the Mae Tao Clinic team to design a follow-up neonatal health audit, planned for five years after project implementation. This audit will look at:
    • Neonatal mortality rates and preventable causes
    • Patient and staff satisfaction with the Reproductive Health Inpatient Department (RHIPD) environment
    • Functionality and usage of the donated equipment
    • Any additional training needs identified

      This long-term vision ensures accountability, sustainability, and a foundation for future collaboration. The project will be co-branded with Rotary and Mae Tao Clinic, with regular updates shared with all Rotary partners.
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