Did you know that eating duck eggs and watermelon together could kill? Neither did I—until I found myself staring at a “Foods that shouldn’t be eaten together” poster across my dining table.
Growing up in Myanmar, it was normal to encounter health posters depicting food pyramids or charts. These posters showcasing peculiar food combinations to be avoided were a haunting presence in our daily lives. People believed them out of fear, without any evidence or proof. Such medical knowledge was passed down as superstition from one generation to the next.
Never have I ever come across a person who was able to explain why the food combinations in these charts were deadly. They were all simply intimidated by the bold red letters that spelled out “death” in Burmese.
These posters, filled with false information, were taken seriously, particularly in rural areas where there is little to no way to prove or disprove the facts presented.
To the younger me, this was merely a problem for my people. But as I learned more about the importance of sharing accurate medical knowledge, I began to question broader changes needed in my country.
It would be an understatement to say that Myanmar’s healthcare system is falling behind. Growing up as a Burmese kid, the posters weren’t the only source of misinformation. Physicians themselves were a source of false information. Parents were advised to beat children with depression rather than seek help. Myths such as washing one’s hair during menstruation leading to death persisted. The persistence of false information surprises me given the increased availability of the internet in Myanmar. This is largely due to the way medicine and biology are portrayed by the media.
As someone passionate about both fields, I am driven to explore the intersectionality between them. Medical research is scarce in my country, and the limited available data is inaccessible to the general population. Consequently, people are left to rely upon exaggerated or false information found on the internet or through community gossip.
About Thadar
- Age: 19
- Ethnicity: Burmese
- Country: Myanmar
School & Program
- State University of New York at Geneseo
- Bachelor’s, Biochemistry
- 3rd Year in Program
Goals & Dreams
- Become a cardiac surgeon
- Reduce medical misinformation in Myanmar
- Travel to Switzerland
Loan Details
- Loan Amount: $5,000
- Amount Left To Fund: $3,775
- Contract Duration: 12 years
- Status: In School
I firmly believe that scientific research plays a vital role in a country’s development, but it is equally important to make the acquired knowledge accessible to ordinary people. Providing accurate information to the right audience could significantly reduce healthcare issues across the nation. Rather than offering superficial remedies, access to lab-tested antidotes could save lives.
By emphasizing the intersection between medicine and research, I hope to contribute to or promote medical research efforts, ensuring that factual, data-driven information becomes readily accessible to all. Medical knowledge should be both accurate and accessible, ensuring that no child in Myanmar has to face those haunting posters.
Written by Thadar with editing assistance from Zomia’s volunteer editors.
Thadar
“I firmly believe that scientific research plays a vital role in a country’s development, but it’s equally important to make the acquired knowledge accessible to ordinary people.”
