Karen doctor Mowae (Photo: Hans Bos)
When Mowae was born 36 years ago in a hut in the jungle of Myanmar, no one could have predicted that he would one day work as a general practitioner at Be Well, the Dutch clinic in Hua Hin. But from an early age it was clear to Mo that he wanted to become a doctor. And thanks to a combination of dream, hope and perseverance, we succeeded.
Mowae's cradle was in the border region of Myanmar, not far from Kanchanaburi. At that time, border traffic was hardly bound by any rules. As a result, Mo had family on both sides. Until 1997 he led a peaceful life. The soldiers of the Burmese army attacked the village, burning the houses and slaughtering the inhabitants who were not killed. Mo was about nine years old at the time, but still remembers the bombs, grenades and the flight through the mountains as if it were yesterday. Until then, Mo had never seen a car.
Mo ended up in a refugee camp in Ratchaburi province, but almost died of boredom. The refugees were not allowed out and the outside world was not allowed in. A period that convinced him that his future lay outside the camp. Mo escaped and moved in with an aunt who, married to a Thai, lived on the border with Myanmar.
Refugees from Myanmar have a big problem: they are in Thailand illegally and have no papers. And you need it to go to a Thai school or a hospital. You simply do not exist for the Thai government.
Mo enrolled in a temple kindergarten at the age of 14. He took care of the children in exchange for Thai lessons. He then completed junior high school in Chiang Mai, six years, in two. The problem was still that he did not have a Thai ID card and therefore had to report to the police every month to get permission to go somewhere. At that time, Mo's plan to become a doctor one day matured.
A missionary from New Zealand took care of Mo, already a hungry student. He acted as her translator. She helps him with school, finds a sponsor and finally ensures that Mo gets Thai nationality. Because he was now too old to receive medical training in Thailand, Mo did so in the Philippines. There he met Paemika Pidchayathanakorn, another go-getter, who managed to get her degree in the Philippines after completing a Thai nursing course. Now, after some wandering in Thai hospitals, they work together as general practitioners at Be Well in Hua Hin. “Everything is life is about hope, about making your dream come true for the future,” says the young doctor firmly.
However, his dream has not yet fully come true. In the future, Mo wants to set up a training center for Karen on both sides of the Myanmar border. Not bound by political or religious beliefs. A dream that deserves to be followed and that has a good chance of success with Mowae's perseverance.
About this blogger
- Almost 20 years ago, journalist Hans Bos moved to Bangkok. Almost from the beginning, he was involved in the birth of Thailandblog. As a journalist, he worked for Limburg newspapers and for the travel trade journals of what was once called Elsevier. Hans (76) has lived in Hua Hin for 14 years, with his wife Raysiya and daughter Lizzy. He was secretary and vice-chairman of the Dutch association in Hua Hin and Cha Am for about nine years.
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It is amazing what he has achieved and what he still aspires to. An example for many.
Funny, after an MRI in the BKK-Hua-hin hospital, he was allowed to explain the scans to me, and prescribe some sleeping tablets.
A calm and attentive doctor, highly recommended.
Knowing this makes me appreciate him even more.
Wonderful story Hans! Promising. Thank you!
Very nice that it turned out this way and I think that the “luck” factor is also part of it. I myself do believe in the 10.000 hours theory in which knowledge is gathered, but if there is no money or the right contacts, then it becomes very difficult.
Many young Thai people from the bottom of society can learn from this.
Much respect! What perseverance!