Nan Mway Noom Phorm
- Studies
- Master of Science in Public Health and Health Equity 2025-2026
- From
- Myanmar
- Background
- Public health, Immunization, and Humanitarian Response
My name is Nan Mway Noom Phorm, an ethnic minority woman from a conflict-affected region of Myanmar. My field of knowledge lies in public health, immunization, and humanitarian response. I began my career with the National Immunization Program of Myanmar, contributing to vaccination coverage expansion and health system strengthening.
Following the military coup, I left the Ministry and joined the Karen Ethnic Health Organization Consortium (KEHOC), where I led initiatives in conflict-affected and hard-to reach areas. In this role, I coordinated mobile clinics, emergency outbreak responses, and essential health services for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and marginalized communities, while managing teams and engaging stakeholders under highly challenging conditions. My academic background—a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) and a Master of Public Health (MPH)—provides a strong foundation for this work.
“ I have witnessed firsthand how armed conflict, political instability, and economic hardship undermine access to essential health services. ” ”
Armed conflict and political instability in Myanmar
The challenges I encountered in Myanmar deeply shaped my professional path. I have witnessed firsthand how armed conflict, political instability, and economic hardship undermine access to essential health services. Vulnerable populations in non-government controlled and mixed-control areas remain particularly at risk.
For example, during a cholera outbreak in a cross-border township in southeastern Myanmar, displaced populations were severely affected, yet the response was delayed due to blocked routes, shortages of health personnel and supplies, and lack of infrastructure. Local teams, including myself, had to manage the crisis with only basic resources. Situations like this highlight the urgent need for resilient, inclusive health systems that can deliver equitable care even in fragile settings.
No marginalized population left behind
The change I want to see in the world is simple but ambitious: a world where access to healthcare does not depend on geography, politics, or financial means. In Myanmar, this vision often feels far away. Rural families walk for hours to reach health centers; women give birth without skilled attendants; children continue to die from vaccine-preventable diseases. These inequities are not only about limited resources but also about governance, health policy, and the capacity of professionals to advocate for their communities.
My goal is to be part of the solution: to use my leadership and technical expertise to ensure that marginalized populations are not left behind. The Master’s programme at KIT is an essential step in my journey. Learning alongside faculty and peers from diverse countries will allow me to compare experiences and adapt strategies to Myanmar’s unique challenges. I see this programme not only as an academic pursuit but as a bridge between humanitarian response and long-term system development.
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