Strength­ening health­care and young people

From 2025 to 2027, the Vontobel Foundation is supporting the project “Vocational Training for Healthcare Personnel and Young People in Myanmar” run by the SANNI Foundation. Its aim is to strengthen the country’s healthcare system and create sustainable livelihoods for marginalized young people.  

The Zurich-based SANNI Foundation promotes education and medical care for children and women. In Myanmar, it has been working since 2014 in partnership with Medical Action Myanmar (MAM), a non-profit organization that not only operates a network of hospitals providing free treatment to people from the most disadvantaged backgrounds but also trains medical personnel.

Since the military coup there in 2021, the humanitarian situation in Myanmar has deteriorated, with serious consequences for the healthcare system.  Many doctors have left the country. This project helps fill the resulting skills gap by training more than 150 nurses, counselors, and patient managers each year. The training program consists of a four-week course combining theory and practical instruction.

Healthcare provision is particularly precarious in remote regions. There, part of the funding provided is invested in training “community health workers” – village residents trained as first-line medical responders.  Some 750 villagers receive this training each year. Equipped with basic medical know-how and an array of health apps, they are able to spot diseases, in some cases providing initial treatment, while referring severe cases to professional medical facilities.

A large proportion of Myanmar’s population lives below the poverty line. As a result, many young people have no choice but to drop out of school in order to work and contribute to family income. This project also enables young people from the poorest neighborhoods to access practical vocational training, for example in skilled trades or commerce, which can create income opportunities for them – and future prospects.