Matupi, Myanmar

Siloam Clinic

Rev. Chan Thleng was born and raised in Matupi, Myanmar, and has always had a love for his people. That’s one of the reasons he returned to the village after his seminary schooling.

The village in which Thleng grew up had few health care resources and was even less stable in their faith. While at seminary in the United States, Thleng developed a relationship with Luke Society supporters. His connection to a Christian nurse in Matupi named Le Ding put the wheels into motion for a medical ministry opportunity.

Thleng serves as the ministry director with Ding working as the medical director. The Luke Society helps the Siloam Clinic by providing medical supplies and medications for the clinic which is open five days a week. Nurses provide community health education on topics like malaria, well-child care, nutrition and sanitation. The Siloam Clinic is the region’s only health-care center.

Siloam Clinic operates out of the first floor of the Hannie Memorial Center — named after Thleng’s wife who died from cancer in 2009. Construction started on the four-story building in 2009. The first floor houses the clinic, medical storage and bookstore. The second story is a guest house. The third is for administrative offices and the fourth floor is a large prayer and meeting hall. The first floor was completed and dedicated in July 2014.

 

Rev. Chan Thleng

About the ministry:

Name: Siloam Clinic

Location: Matupi, Myanmar

Director: Rev. Chan Thleng

Partnership: 1998-present

Staff: 4

Alumni PMT: Bob and Bernie Ellens

 

Our mission:

“Our mission is to follow the Lord's calling and to bring health to the hurting in our region. We desire to touch the lives of people, offering basic health training and physical healing, but also bringing them into a closer relationship with Jesus Christ.”

Why I love being a director:

“I love building relationships with patients and people who come to the clinic for pharmacy service and health consultation, sharing with them the purpose of the Luke Society. I also enjoy sharing the Gospel with the patients and praying in the name of Christ. I also enjoy being a witness to our community through evangelism and seeing the Lord's kingdom grow in our region.”

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About Myanmar:

Population: 57.1 million

Size: 676,578 sq. km, or slightly smaller than Texas.

Capital: Rangoon

Borders: Bangladesh and India to the west; China, Laos and Thailand to the east; Indian Ocean to the southwest.

Religious groups: Buddhist, 87.9%; Christian, 6.2%; Muslim, 4.3%.

Primary language: Burmese

Literacy (age 15+): 89.1%

Physician density: 0.68 doctors per 1,000 people.

Population below international poverty line: 24.8%

Life expectancy: 69.6 years

Infant mortality rate: 33.7 deaths per 1,000 live births.

Major exports: Natural gas, wood products, pulses, beans, fish, rice, clothing, jade and gems.

Climate: Tropical monsoon; hot, humid and rainy from June-September; mild and dry from December-May.

Terrain: Central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands.

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