Pa-Oh Health Working Committee

Pa-Oh Health Working Committee (PHWC) is an Ethnic Health Organ- ization (EHO) serving the health needs of the Pa-Oh people. PHWC was formed by Central Health Department of Pa-Oh National Liber- ation Organization (PNLO) on 21st September 2013. The aim of the organization is to provide primary health care to the people living in Pa-Oh regions without government-sponsored health care services and limited access to health resources of any kind. The current de- livery system is community-based, with a primary health care focus. PHWC was founded by its current Director and Deputy Director, Khun Nay Htoo and Khun Si Thu. It is currently headquartered in Taunggyi with three functioning clinics in Mauk Mae (of which only one was purpose built). There are also two designated houses to store medicines in Shi Seing. In Ho Nan and Ka Toe Gyi, there are 30 CHWs working in the village tract level. There were not sufficient funds in PHWC to provide a stipend, so the leaders coordinate with village leaders to facilitate community support.

PHWC was initially funded by PNLO, but that source of funding has now ended (though they receive support politically). PHWC had never worked on a project with a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) until in 2016 when they began working with Relief International on a 3MDG grant. They work closely with the Ethnic Health Systems Strengthening Group (EHSSG) in Mae Sot, both receiving medicines and contributing to collaborative work.