Program
- 10.00-10.05: Introduction, professor Espen Bjertness
- 10.05 – 10.50: Lecture: Myanmar Spring Revolution: Health & Education Impact, Professor Zaw Wai Soe
- 10.50 – 11.30: Discussion
Professor Zaw Wai Soe, Myanmar Union Minister for Health and Education, represents the civil government (the National Unity Government of Myanmar). He will give a talk about the current situation in Myanmar. Since the military's coup on February 1, 2021, the political, economic, and humanitarian crisis in Myanmar has only grown more dire, with reports indicating nearly 3,000 killed, nearly 17,000 detained, and more than 1.5 million people displaced.
Professor Zaw Wai Soe is an orthopedic surgeon who served as the Rector of University of Medicine 1 in Yangon before the coup. He was active in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) immediately after the coup, and serves now as the Union Minister for Health and Education in the National Unity Government (NUG) of Myanmar.
More about Professor Zaw Wai Soe
Professor Zaw Wai Soe graduated with M.B.B.S from University of Medicine 2, Yangon in 1986. Afterwards he served as a civil assistant surgeon for three years in Myingan District Hospital. After coming back from the United Kingdom in 2000, he worked in the Orthopaedic Department of Yangon General Hospital and Yangon Orthopaedic Hospital. He was appointed as Rector of the University of Medicine 2, Yangon in 2014. On 20 May 2015, Prof Zaw was appointed as Rector of the University of Medicine 1, Yangon.
He was one of the founders of spine Surgery and Emergency Medicine in Myanmar. He was the leader for reforming sixteen medical related universities in the country, and served as the chairman of the Myanmar Rector’s Committee till 1. February 2021. In 2020, he played a leading role in Yangon’s COVID-19 fight and became the vice chair of Yangon Region COVID-19 Contain, Control and Treating Coordination Committee. He was a key person in the UiO led program for Competence Building in Public Health and Medical Research and Education in Myanmar (MY-NORTH).
Contact: Espen Bjertness