Well here is some good news ... about Myanmar.

There are now one hundred thousand people on antiretroviral treatment in Myanmar. That is, coincidentally, the same number of people on antiretroviral treatment in Vietnam. What comparison can we make between the two countries?

Firstly, Myanmar has fewer new infections a year, at about 7,000. Vietnam has double that number, or about 15,000 new infections a year.

Secondly, Myanmar has higher coverage of antiretroviral treatment than Vietnam. Myanmar has half of all people living with the virus on treatment and Vietnam has only forty per cent.

But what clearly distinguishes the two countries is funding. The results of the Myanmar national AIDS spending assessment are not public, but the country spent only $54 million in 2013. Vietnam spent much more, possibly triple this amount, as it had spent $140 million in 2010.

So Myanmar has achieved fewer new HIV infections and higher HIV treatment coverage using much less money than Vietnam. Good on her.

Jamie