EBRMS

We are currently preparing for the Eastern Burma Retrospective Mortality Study. Our org has facilitated several in the past, working with more partners, and thus covering a larger population each time. This one will, accordingly, be the largest yet, and is requiring an intense amount of preparation. The survey itself will take much prep - the questionaire had to be updated and reworked, then translated, back-translated, and field tested for 6 languages. Malaria and iodine testing supplies ordered and distributed, nearly10,000 copies of the survey made, and of course, the surveyor training to prepare for (lasting 10 days), or rather, 3 trainings, because due to travel and security problems (as well as some political differences), not everyone can come to the same place.

I have worked on several surveys before, but none this large, or so frought with obstacles. It is an odd mix of writing stata code to draw clusters, and figuring out which non-cease fire ares are stable enough to survey, and where surveyors can travel to given security, which ID card they hold, etc. It is odd to estimate prevalence of human rights violations such as forced labor or displacement, in order to run a sample size calculation. It is exciting though, to think about the scope of the survey - to think that the data procured will enable correlation between human rights violations and health outcomes, and is achieved via cooperation between groups that cross ethnic lines, religions, languages, and in some cases, serious political rifts.

This survey, like those before it, will provide information pertinent to groups on the border planning health interventions for the areas surveyed, as well as serve as a tool for advocacy on an international scale. It empowers local groups with information about their populations, provides an evidence base for both work here and advocacy around the world, and sets a model for measuring health outcomes and human rights violations in other conflict contexts.

I am so excited to be a part of it - knowing about this survey was one of the reasons I came to work here. I am only sad that my many other responsibilities prevent me from delving into it as deeply as I would like. Still, I am honored to be a part of it.