Jan Wijngaarden has made a comment below on the fortified rice posting. There is some evidence that eating unpolished rice decreases the risk of obesity: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3996977/ Changing foodways is difficult. In the long run they are going to have to change to decrease noncommunicable diseases. What causes them to change? Jamie ++++++++++++++++++ Big compliments to […]

I have received the following anonymous comment from a reader. Does anyone want to respond? Jamie ++++++++++++++++++ “Correct me if I am wrong or ignorant. I wonder if the new GF concept note, National Strategic Plan for next five years include the counselling strategy for HIV services. There is no update HIV counselling SOPs or […]

It is good to see solidarity among groups working on drug policy in Myanmar. I fear a disaster at the UNGASS on drugs in New York later this month. Jamie ++++++++++++++++++ Advocates Demand More ‘Humane’ Drug Policy Ahead of UN Summit Nyein Nyein The Irrawaddy Tuesday, April 5, 2016 | A panel on Drugs, Development, […]

Here are more official links to the speech by the Minister of Health. Official Burmese version: http://www.moh.gov.mm/file/Web%20Speech%20(Myanmar).pdf Unofficial English version: http://www.moh.gov.mm/file/Web%20Speech%20(English).pdf If you know someone working in health in Myanmar please forward this email to them. They should read it. Jamie

Here is a speech by the newly appointed Minister of Health Sayagyi Dr Myint Htwe. A long one. https://www.dropbox.com/s/ienq8v26l1ptgc5/speech%20by%20the%20minister%20of%20health%20sayagyi%20u%20myint%20htwe.pdf?dl=0 He focuses less on what will be done and more on what will be done differently. I am optimistic. Nothing about tobacco control, but good to see “intensified programs for prevention, control and treatment of noncommunicable […]

The only thing more bizarre than this story was the one last year when oral contraceptives were seized. There are no effective ‘sex drugs’ to increase desire. None. There are drugs for men that allow men to have erections. These drugs have no effect on women. Slipping one of them into a woman’s drink will […]

I find it strange that there is a Twitter account for PR GFATM in Myanmar. It does not say if it represents all Global Fund funding in the country or only itself https://twitter.com/PR_Gfatm There are two Principal Recipients in Myanmar. Both or neither should represent the country. Jamie