[DSN Disclaimer: This entry is not about sports. It's about the human spirit. So, you're not going to find any basketball or recruiting information contained in this entry. However, you will be introduced to some of, if not, the bravest people in the world. And they just happen to be new Duck fans.]
Jay, here.
Ever been in need of medical attention in a remote part of Burma?
I know. It sounds a lot like, “Have you ever been in a Turkish prison?”. But it’s not a joke. A Turkish prison is a joke compared to the conditions in Burma/Myanmar.
If by chance you find yourself in need of medical treatment in a remote part Burma (Is there a place in Burma that’s not remote?), look for help from the people wearing the yellow-on-black “O” Oregon hats. They are the Barefoot Doctors of Burma. And Duck fans.
“Go Ducks!”
[Update 2/12/08, 12:32 p.m.: Joe brings up a good idea in the comments section. Instead of Barefoot Doctors, they should probably be referred to as the Duckfoot, or Webfoot, Doctors now.]
After traveling for nearly 36 hours, I returned this past Saturday from spending a week in Chiang Mai, Thailand doing some promotional work for the organization responsible for managing a number of charitable programs, including the Barefoot Doctors program.
What is a Barefoot Doctor? Well, for one, they aren’t barefoot. And they aren’t doctors. But they are community health workers (to borrow a few phrases from Dr. Paul). And probably some of the best health care providers you will find in Burma.
Once a year, a group of highly respected Burmese travel to Chiang Mai, Thailand (in some cases requiring weeks and thousands of miles of travel) to receive basic medical training that they can take back to their people in the most remote parts of Burma. Not only do they do it at great personal risk to themselves, but they look at this opportunity as an honor and a privilege.
What’s the Oregon connection? Not only is the program’s managing physician from Oregon, but so are a number of other participating medical personnel. And most of them just happen to be Duck fans, as well.
As a token of appreciation, the Barefoot Doctors routinely present gifts to the foreign training and support staff (this year, that included presenting a machete, that was neither symbolic nor ceremonial, to one of the doctors). In return, all of the Barefoot Doctors were given Oregon hats. More importantly, however, they were also given crucial medicine and medical supplies for their work.
Everyone got an Oregon hat, except for a couple of drivers. Two of the hats “disappeared” in transit. I guess there a couple of baggage handlers in Seattle (maybe not), Taipei, Bangkok, or Chiang Mai who are now Duck fans, too.
So, if you ever find yourself in real trouble in Burma and need help, don’t worry about signaling S-O-S. In this case, an “O” will do just fine.
If you would like to find out more about the Barefoot Doctors of Burma, click here or feel free to email us.