Baptist World Alliance Honors Cynthia Maung’s Work at the Mae Tao Clinic

By Saw Shar / Karen News | July 09, 2017

Cynthia Maung, a doctor who has spent nearly three decades working with migrants and refugees along the Thai-Myanmar border, was honored with the 2017 Baptist World Alliance Denton and Janice Lotz Human Rights Award.

“I’m proud to receive this award for the civic-based organizations and individuals who are working with us on health, education and human rights issues,” she told Karen News.

Dr Cynthia Maung was presented the award on July 5 at the Baptist World Alliance’s annual meeting in Bangkok. Dr Cynthia Maung established the Mae Tao Medical Clinic in Mae Sot in 1989.

The Baptist World Alliance hailed the clinic for treating up to 150,000 patients per year, including locals, migrant workers and refugees. The award announcement also noted the role the Mae Tao Clinic played in helping bring the malaria epidemic along the border under control.

“In addition to its medical services, where it trains medical interns, nurses and hygienists, the clinic addresses issues of domestic violence and human rights, and feeds more than 500 people twice each day,” the Baptist World Alliance said.

Mahn Shwe Hnin, head of the Child Development Centre, congratulated his close friend on the award.

“We are very happy for her since she has been doing her best for public health,” he said.

The Baptist World Alliance Denton and Janice Lotz Annual Human Rights Award was established in 2006 and is given out annually to peacemakers and human rights defenders.

Dr Cynthia Maung is the recipient of over 30 international awards recognizing her work at the clinic, including the Jonathan Mann Award in 1999, Southeast Asia’s Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2002, the Sydney Peace Prize in 2013 and the South Korean POSCO TJ Park Prize in 2015.

She currently serves as chair of the Burma Medical Association and the Back Pack Health Worker Team.