Health in Myanmar [him] is back on Facebook. Him Mod. Like, Friend, Follow, whatever. It is unilingual for now. http://www.facebook.com/him.mod.58 Here are two short articles on health from Eleven Media. Eleven is going to have to do a better job of indepth reporting on health issues. Jamie ++++++++++++++++++ 60% annual deaths due to non-infectious diseases […]

Three articles, probably outdated by the time you read them. This is probably the biggest human resources for health crisis of the last several years. It will be fascinating to see how both sides handle themselves. Precedents will be set. Good luck to all. Jamie ++++++++++++++++++ Health Ministry Stands Firm as Nursing Students Protest Delayed […]

This is the best article on road safety that I’ve seen yet in the mainstream media in Myanmar. It covers both driver and road issues and ponders some of the imponderables such as driver side/driving side disonance and drunk driving. Have the number of crashes decreased on the section of the Yangon/Naypyitaw highway that was […]

Longterm readers of Health in Myanmar know that the moderator has been critical of PEPFAR efforts in HIV prevention. The new annual PEPFAR report is a treat. Birx’s emphasis on data is showing. http://www.pepfar.gov/documents/organization/267809.pdf You can see both decreases in the incidence rate and the number of new infections. There are still a million people […]

When I first read the headline I was hopeful. Then I read the article. The informant Mai Aike Naing makes clear that the mandatory detention, which may last up to two years, is punishment. There is nothing in the article to show that there is evidence-informed health treatment for the people with drug use disorder. […]

Here is a new tobacco control scorecard. http://seatca.org/dmdocuments/Smoke-free%20index-Implementation%20of%20FCTC%20Article%208%202016.pdf You can see that Myanmar has a way to go to achieve success in tobacco control. Onwards, Jamie

It is almost a year since Richard Horton of The Lancet wrote: “The NCD community needs an electric shock to its semi-comatose soul. But who has the courage to deliver it?” http://thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(15)01178-2/fulltext Please join me in shaking people out of complacency on noncommunicable diseases, mental health disorders, and sudden conditions. Jamie

I didn’t know the Elton John AIDS Foundation supported the Clinton Health Access Initiative to support the Substance Abuse Research Association to support activities to support people who inject drugs in Kachin. I can’t find it in the Mohinga.info database. Nice photo. Jamie ++++++++++++++++++ Decentralizing HIV testing and ART services in Myanmar Aung Naing Soe, […]

The Asian Development Bank President just visited Myanmar. Did he get an update on this HIV project. It would have been a short update because the project has been stalled and inactive for two years. It has, in fact, not begun. http://www.adb.org/projects/46490-001/main#project-pds It was ill-conceived anyway. Jamie

About the new Myanmar government betel campaign I wrote a few days ago: This is a good start but does not go near far enough. Half measures avail us nothing. If there is evidence of harm from betel chewing then a well thought-out and comprehensive national plan to decrease consumption is needed ++++++++++++++++++ And I […]

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

Here is an op ed. A direct challenge to the new #NLD government. Jamie ++++++++++++++++++ Community health: We care for our own Health Convergence Core Group Tuesday, 29 March 2016 With the convening of the National League for Democracy-dominated parliament and the formation of the U Htin Kyaw cabinet – including the appointment of Dr […]