College illuminated to mark second anniversary of deadly coup in Myanmar

01 Feb 2023

Today, 1st February— two years since the deadly coup in Myanmar took place—Royal Colleges across the UK are lighting up their buildings in red in a moment of solidarity and remembrance for health workers who have risked, and lost, their lives to provide care over the past year. 

The gesture, led by the Tropical Health and Education Trust (THET), and marked by Royal Colleges across the United Kingdom, is a tribute to the thousands of individuals who live in one of the deadliest countries in the world to be a health worker.

The institutions marking this moment include: the British Medical Association, the Royal College of General Practitioners, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, the Royal College of Physicians, the Royal College of Nursing, the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Royal College of Pathologists, the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, the Royal College of Radiologists, the Royal College of Midwives, and the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.

Since the military coup, in Myanmar there have been:   

• 707 recorded attacks on healthcare   
• 55 health workers have been killed  
• 75 health facilities damaged 
• 100 health workers have been injured.

For the past two years, members of Royal Colleges and the broader UK health community, including the Myanmar diaspora in the NHS, have come together to support their colleagues in Myanmar through the provision of training and humanitarian assistance.

President Mike McKirdy, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow said:

“By participating in this initiative, we stand in solidarity with health professionals in Myanmar who risk their lives every day to deliver essential care to those in need, under hugely challenging circumstances. We have deep routed connections with the medical community in Myanmar.

“Alongside the work we do to support our Fellows and Members based there, we have also introduced initiatives such as our online learning platform ‘RCPSG Learning Hub for Myanmar’, to enable healthcare staff to continue their own professional development. Our thoughts and prayers remain with them and all those caught up in the conflict.”

Category: College