Don't Want No Scrubs
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“Firstly, we are not safe, because the SAC attacks us with air strikes and missiles. Every hospital is in danger! Now in Karenni state, our hospital Lobarko was attacked and another three hospitals, were all attacked as well by airstrikes. So, we are not safe all the time! For this reason, we have no psychological safety. This is one difficulty. The other thing is that we have limited resources and instruments. For the operations, we need longer time. Sometimes, we have a shortage of medical supplies like antibiotics and other drugs. Sometimes, the SAC [blocks] medical supplies. And we have limited human resources, doctors and medical profession are fewer [here in] Karenni State.”
Dr. Myo Khant Ko Ko, a dedicated surgeon, has become a beacon of hope for his community, risking everything to provide healthcare in the most harrowing of conditions.
Before the 2021 coup reshaped his world, Dr. Myo Khant Ko Ko was steadily climbing the ranks of Myanmar's medical community, in a country that seemed to be moving towards stability and progress. He graduated from the University of Medicine in Magway in 2009 and by 2018, he had earned a master's degree in surgery, establishing himself as an accomplished, medical professional. He worked as a specialist at West Yangon General Hospital and later at Loikaw General Hospital in Karenni State. His career was on a promising trajectory—that is, until the military seized power, changing everything.
The coup thrust Dr. Myo Khant Ko Ko into a world fraught with danger and uncertainty. The military established the State Administration Council (SAC), and their brutal and aggressive tactics included airstrikes and deliberate targeting of healthcare facilities. Additionally, he also had to navigate relationships with various Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) in Karenni State, each with their own agenda. Some EAOs had uneasy alliances with the SAC; others, referred to as Ethnic Revolutionary Alliances (EROs), aligned themselves with the PDF and other revolutionary groups fighting for a federal democracy. The challenge of these relationships sometimes led to targeting of medical professionals like Dr. Myo Khant Ko Ko, particularly by EAOs that did not trust medical personnel from outside their regions.
Amid the chaos, Dr. Myo Khant Ko Ko found strength in the Karenni community. Medical students, junior doctors, and local people became his support system, inspiring him to keep going. He took on the role of a mentor, training young medical professionals whenever he could, even though their sessions were often interrupted by the unrelenting demands of patient care. In response to the chaotic conditions, he worked tirelessly to build networks among medical professionals. He united groups like the Doctor Society of Karenni, the Karenni Nurses Association, and the Karenni Midwife Society to bolster their collective strength, creating a sense of solidarity amidst the upheaval. His aim was not just to provide immediate care but also to cultivate a resilient healthcare system that could withstand the relentless assaults of the SAC. He worked closely with others to upgrade the skills of midwives and nurses through workshops on mother and childcare, such as contraception and prenatal care.
His efforts also led to the founding of the Karenni Medical College and the Karenni Medics to provide education and medical care to the people of the region, even in the face of adversity. These initiatives not only addressed the immediate healthcare needs but also aimed at building a sustainable medical infrastructure for the future.
The surgeries he performed under dire conditions showed his remarkable skills and his extraordinary dedication to saving lives. In one notable case, he saved a patient with a traumatic brain injury, despite widespread belief among his colleagues that the patient could not survive. Another case involved a landmine victim who had already lost one leg, and whose remaining leg was severely damaged. Despite advice from a UK-based orthopedic surgeon to amputate, Dr. Myo Khant Ko Ko persisted. He consulted with others, continued his treatment, and managed to save the limb.
A critical challenge in Dr. Myo Khant Ko Ko's work has been a severe lack of resources, including limited medical supplies and an insufficient number of healthcare professionals. Logistical difficulties such as poor road conditions also made reaching remote areas for mobile clinics arduous. Despite these obstacles, Dr. Myo Khant Ko Ko continued organizing field hospitals to reach displaced people in the farthest regions, which often meant needing to pass through active conflict zones. The clinics he established there could only be reached through treacherous roads and had to be constantly relocated to avoid detection by the SAC, whose tactics included obstructing medical supplies and attacking healthcare facilities outright. Each of the field hospitals he worked at was repeatedly targeted by airstrikes, forcing them to relocate constantly and adapt to new threats. Yet, In the face of these seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Dr. Myo Khant Ko Ko remained steadfast, finding innovative ways to continue providing care.
The doctor describes his courage as stemming from a firm decision to stand unwaveringly with the people who need him, regardless of the personal risks. He envisions a future where the people of his country not only survive, but can thrive, and for that, he has been willing to risk everything. His Buddhist also faith plays a crucial role in keeping him grounded. Meditation and mindfulness help him cope with the constant stress of operating in an active conflict zone, where each day brings new threats. He finds solace in knowing that he is doing good work, and with faith in the laws of cause-and-effect, he trusts that there is a force beyond himself providing protection. For Dr. Myo Khant Ko Ko, the fight is not just against the physical injuries inflicted by war –it is against the injustice and inhumanity of the military regime.
The sacrifices of those around him—including his colleagues, civilians, and local health workers— also serve as a constant source of inspiration. These are people who, like him, choose to enter and then remain in conflict zones, putting themselves at risk to help others. Their bravery encourages him to persevere despite relentless challenges, highlighting the importance of building connections with other medical professionals across the region to upgrade collective skills and resources. He also highlights the importance of his connections with other medical professionals across the region, working to upgrade their collective skills and resources.
In closing, Dr. Myo Khant Ko Ko has one particular message he hopes outside observers can understand about the conflict still waging in Burma: "Around the world, some countries think there are two groups— the SAC and the other group, the Revolution group [and that] they are both fighting for power. But that is not real! We are fighting for justice and humanity and for federal democracy. We are human. We have a chance to get democracy. So this is the reason for our fight is not for power. We are fighting for humanity."
If you found this interview compelling, please consider listening to these past episodes with related themes:
· Pyae Phyo Kyaw, a gay doctor from Myanmar, set up mobile medical units in the Karenni jungle to care for IDPs, navigating limited resources and the ever-present dangers of airstrikes. His work provides life-saving care under dire conditions, and at the same time, challenges societal prejudices, exemplifying resilience, compassion, and the transformative power of unity through service.
· Coco, a private doctor who joined the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) after the coup, shares how he became a part of underground networks to support striking healthcare workers, despite the immense risks involved. His reflections on overcoming fear, uniting across diverse backgrounds, and standing up to oppression resonate with broader themes of resilience, collective solidarity, and the pursuit of justice in the face of authoritarian violence.
· Dr. Troy shares how he secretly administered medical care to injured protesters and organized underground clinics during the coup, risking abduction and witnessing colleagues detained or killed for their humanitarian work. His determination to serve despite extreme adversity and his efforts to train communities in first aid reflect profound courage, collective solidarity, and the ethical imperative to act in defense of humanity.
· Shade, a Burmese individual living in Australia, shares how he joined efforts to provide underground medical aid and set up basic healthcare training in conflict zones to support IDPs and war-affected communities. His commitment to resisting oppression, empowering local populations with essential skills, and fostering resilience highlight the transformative power of grassroots initiatives in response to overwhelming adversity.
· Adelina Kamal, an expert in ASEAN humanitarian response and a former director of the AHA Center, shares her journey of challenging ASEAN's traditional mechanisms to advocate for people-centered solutions amid the Myanmar crisis. Her insights into the necessity of rethinking non-interference and prioritizing trust and dignity in humanitarian aid underscore the urgent need for collective, people-first approaches in addressing complex emergencies and oppressive regimes.
· Yeshua Moser-Puangsuwan, a researcher and long-time activist for the international campaign to ban landmines, shares how his meditation practice has been pivotal in processing the trauma of war and driving his decades-long efforts to address the devastating effects of landmine contamination in Myanmar. His work highlights the indiscriminate and long-lasting harm caused by landmines, which victimize civilians and combatants alike. It underscores the urgent need for accountability, community education, and a global commitment to end their use.