The Muslim Free Hospital

Pyaw Kyaw Myint is a photographer and project manager for both Framing the Transition and the Yangon Photo Festival.

For his photo essay, he decided to focus on the Muslim Free Hospital in Yangon. Founded in 1937 as a small dispensary, it has grown into a 160 bed hospital that has as its main objective to help the poor, needy and sick without regard to caste, creed or color. The hospital is run on a purely voluntary basis and through voluntary contributions.

Pyay Kyaw Myint’s fiancee is a physician working at the hospital, which inspired him to take photographs there. He says, “I wanted to find a way to challenge the increasing polarisation I often find in my country when it comes to interfaith relations. Instead of intolerance, I wish more would focus on beautiful and inspiring things – like the Muslim Free Hospital.”