In a small village in Kayin State, Daw May (name changed) worried that her youngest daughter was not growing well. The family relies on small-scale farming, and seasonal income losses often mean meals lack variety. The little girl became increasingly thin and fatigued.
When a health care service provision team, supported by the OCHA-managed UN Global Emergency Fund (CERF), arrived to conduct nutrition checks and health education, the child was screened and found to be moderately malnourished. Health workers counselled Daw May on simple, locally available foods that could help her daughter recover.
“The health worker explained everything patiently,” she said. “I followed her advice, and slowly my daughter became healthier. When they measured her arm again and told me she was improving, I felt so relieved.”
With regular follow-up, nutrition support, and improved feeding practices, her daughter returned to the healthy range.
In the aftermath of Myanmar’s March 2025 earthquake, thousands of families like May’s in remote areas were left struggling to access even the most basic health services. But with rapid, flexible support from CERF, the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners have been able to bring lifesaving care closer to home – strengthening local health systems, improving early disease detection, and restoring dignity for communities facing repeated hardships.
From emergency referrals that save lives to nutrition counselling that helps children recover and thrive, this work shows how timely humanitarian funding can transform resilience at the community level.
Read how more than 58,000 people in Kayin and Southern Shan are now accessing safer water, essential health care, and stronger support. Strengthening Community Health and Resilience in Myanmar: How CERF Support Helped Bring Lifesaving Care Closer to Home in Earthquake-affected Areas.
Posted January 2026.
Pooled Fund impact stories.