From Quake to Community Resilience: How WHO Protected Health in Mandalay’s Villages

“When we renovated the damaged side drains, it was not only about repairing the waterflow and drainage system within our village,” said Daw Hla Htay, one of the community members. “We were protecting our children from potential disease outbreak. It gave us both income for today to purchase the required food and health for tomorrow.”

On 28 March 2025, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar, shaking Mandalay Region and leaving behind not only shattered houses and roads but also hidden health threats. In Wundwin, Kyauk Se, and Kume townships, families faced more than material destruction. Pools of stagnant water created breeding grounds for mosquitoes, while overcrowded shelters increased the risk of diarrhea diseases. For families already grappling with loss, these health risks magnified the disaster’s impact.

Before moving into the field, WHO Myanmar’s Malaria and Health Emergencies Teams worked together with the World Food Programme (WFP) and its local partner to integrate health education and disease prevention into the ongoing earthquake recovery activity implemented by WFP. The aim of this joint initiative was simple: to bring essential health protection into communities as they rebuilt their lives.

Local leaders, health workers, and village representatives were consulted to adapt messages and ensure participation. As Dr. Deyer, WHO Myanmar Malaria Team Lead, explained: “It was not a matter of giving information, but of making sure that it was correct information, in the correct format, at the correct time.”

Dr. San San Win, WHO National Technical Officer, added, “Community participation was at the heart of this response. By working together with local leaders and families, we ensured that health protection became part of the recovery process. It is this shared ownership that will sustain resilience long after the emergency ends.”

When WHO staff reached the villages, access was difficult with damaged roads and limited transport, yet interactive sessions went ahead in schools, shaded areas, and community centers. Using posters, demonstrations, and larvicide, families learned how to prevent dengue, avoid acute watery diarrhea, and recognize when to seek care. These activities were also linked to WFP’s Cash-for-Work Programme, where villagers received cash rations from WFP as wages while clearing rubble, repairing roads, and restoring public spaces. This joint effort not only supported livelihoods but also strengthened community health protection.

The impact was quickly felt. Communities not only restored their surroundings but also gained the knowledge to protect themselves from future health threats. “After the quake, we only hoped to rebuild our homes,” said a resident of Wundwin. “Today we also know how to protect our families from disease. We can build and be healthy too.”

WHO Staff leading a health education session on preventing dengue and acute watery diarrhea (AWD) in a village of Kyauk Se                                                                                                                                         Photo - Pyae Phyo Aung / WHO Myanmar

For WHO teams, the sense of resilience in these villages was a powerful reminder of why community participation matters. “You see hope in their eyes when they realize that their own actions can prevent the next outbreak,” said Dr. Pyae Phyo Aung, WHO National Professional Officer. “Every discussion with the community reminded us that they were not passive recipients of aid—they were true partners in prevention. That partnership is what makes the difference between temporary relief and long-term health security.”

By the end of the intervention, households were covering containers, mosquito breeding sites were cleared, and hygiene awareness had improved. These small actions laid the foundation for long-term health security, reducing the risk of outbreaks not only weeks after the earthquake but for years to come.

As Dr. Deyer reflected: “When we bring health into recovery, we’re not rebuilding buildings—we’re rebuilding resilience.”

*This story was originally published on the WHO Myanmar website.