LEARNING OUTCOMES
Describe the differences between the terms internally displaced, refugees, asylum seekers and climate refugees.
Outline the
health and social issues faced by refugees and asylum seekers in the community.
Locate the appropriate clinical resources available in refugee and asylum seeker health in Australia
Demonstrate an introductory understanding of the current political environment regarding the entry of asylum seekers globally and in Australia
RESOURCES
Intructions and case study: Case Study of Gam Maw
Dear Students,
In this tutorial,
we will examine the case study of Gam Maw, a refugee from Myanmar, and his
experiences of life and health in Malaysia.
As usual, download
the case study and instructions from the Resources column above.
Please note that
since our tutorial is on a Monday, you will need to submit your answers by
09:30 hours, 13 April (A to E) and 18 April (F to I) 2022.
THE CASE OF GAM MAW
Gam Maw: Profile and country of origin
Gam Maw, aged 32, arrived in Malaysia in
the year 2014. He is from a minority ethnic group who escaped persecution in
Myanmar. His family was vocal about political injustice in his home country,
and they were severely persecuted for it. He had witnessed family members and
neighbours being beaten up and killed. His cousins had
disappeared and were never heard from again. His parents were dead, and his
brother had managed to escape earlier. He had tremors in his hands whenever he
thought about whether he would be the next to be caught and killed.
Transit
Feeling afraid for his life, Gam Maw made
his escape by paying an agent to arrange transportation to get him to Malaysia,
where his brother was. He went through an arduous journey by boat, bus, and
long walks through forests. They only moved during the night. During the day,
they had to lay low. The places they made stops at were often uncomfortable.
They also had limited food and clean water supply. The harsh conditions during
the journey took a toll on his physical and mental health. He developed
respiratory problems and was constantly anxious. He also had constant
nightmares from the events he witnessed back home and was only able to sleep
for a few hours a day.
Life in the country of asylum
Upon arrival, Gam Maw reunited with his brother. He tried to apply and register for the UNHCR refugee status, but the application and verification process was lengthy and tedious. In the meantime, he managed to find work in the restaurants in Kuala Lumpur. Gam Maw finished a diploma in his home country, but the lack of documentation meant that he could only find low-paying daily wage jobs in the informal sector. He worked at least 12 to 13 hours a day in different restaurants, depending on job availability and demand. Some restaurants made him wash dishes in confined areas with poor ventilation to hide him from authorities. His total take-home pay was usually around MYR 800 a month. Sometimes, the restaurants would provide meals from leftover and unsold stale food. But very often, he would end up eating food that was cheap, high in caloric content and sodium but low in nutrients. His most consumed item was instant noodles. He also had housing issues. His brother had his own family, and Gam Maw could not stay with him for an extended period. A month after his arrival in Malaysia, he moved out of his brother's rental room and rented shared rooms with others in the refugee community, which was not a stable option. He had to change house a few times when house owners suddenly asked them to vacate. One time, a house owner who demanded a high rental price, verbally increased the rental after two months and threatened to evict them if they failed to pay the additional amount.
As he could not complain to any authorities, he had to move each time such issues occurred.
In 2018, Gam Maw finally managed to get a UNHCR card. He lived in a rented room which costed MYR 800 per month, and seven people shared the rent. His entire flat had two bedrooms that housed 15 individuals, including him. Many of his housemates did not have the UNHCR card. Regardless of their UNHCR status, almost all his housemates, including himself, were harassed by individuals claiming to be enforcement personnel. Sometimes, officers would randomly stop and conduct spot checks on buses and public transportation. Gam Maw also heard stories of people who were caught and put into detention centres regardless of their UNHCR documentation status. Hence, they were very afraid of drawing attention to themselves and kept their doors and windows closed at all times. The building where their flat is located is old and mouldy, with poor ventilation. Maintenance was poor, and the landlord was not responsive and would only contact them when rent was due. Gam Maw still suffered poor sleep, and his tremors worsened whenever he was feeling particularly anxious. He had many aches and pains in his body owing to his posture while washing dishes for hours each day. He still experienced tremors whenever he felt anxious or fearful, especially when enforcement officers were in sight.
Health emergency and health care
experience
One day, he could not breathe and could not stop wheezing. He had also been coughing badly for a month and had greenish thick bloody mucus. His friends pooled together money to pay for the hospital deposit and brought him to the nearest public hospital. He was diagnosed with acute pneumonia and warded in the hospital. He was also found to have high blood pressure. He was given treatment, and he stopped wheezing and could breathe better. The hospital also tested him for tuberculosis, and they were awaiting the results. His friends did not stay through this process at the hospital as they had to work. Gam Maw could not understand English or Malay very well. His anxiety heightened because he was in the hospital surrounded by strangers. The doctors and nurses found it difficult to talk to him and could not explain his condition to him. His anxiety was so bad that he could not even pay attention to verbal cues and was afraid to look at them. They left him alone for the time being to wait for his tuberculosis test results. Later on, Gam Maw spotted a few policemen walking through the ward to talk to another patient. Terrified, Gam Maw quickly ran out of the hospital when nobody was watching him. The hospital tried to trace him by calling the emergency contact number he had provided on admission, but there was no response from that number. His housemates did not know about his whereabouts.
See you at the tutorials on Health and Human
Rights! 