The second paragraph drops a hint that 'getting to zero' is a way off. Five thousand infections a year is a LONG way from 'zero'. Why persist with preaching this unreachable goal?

[him] moderator

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In 2011 the government targets ‘zero’
Yamon Phu Thit
Myanmar Times
26 December 2011

THE United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals (MDG) are set for 2015 and in 2011, the government claimed that Myanmar is on course to achieve them. This year, the government has been able
to make a number of developments and achievements to this end, particularly in HIV/AIDS work.

The government has initiated a National Strategic Plan for HIV/AIDS from 2011 to 2015, with the view to reducing new HIV infections, to provide more ART treatments to patients and to reduce AIDS-related side effects. This plan is intended to support the accomplishment of Myanmar’s Millennium Development Goals, targeting a reduction in the number of people infected with HIV to less than 5000.

Estimated expenditure for the five-year plan
is set at US$ 343.6 million, with the first two
years costing $111.7 million. The Global Fund
has also agreed to contribute $142 million
towards the plan.

In terms of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment,
the Ministry of Health has been cooperating
with seven United Nation Organizations,
11 local NGOs and 21 International NGOs.
In Myanmar, 46 organisations and NGOs are
working on HIV/AIDS projects.

HIV/AIDS patients can now receive treatment
at Mingalardon Hospital, Thakayta township
hospital and 48 State and Region hospitals.
2011 is being considered a ‘game changing
year’ for the sector, said Dr Soe Naing, Social
Mobilization Adviser for UNAIDS.
“For instance, if we use the analogy of a
football match between the HIV virus and
people, HIV used to defeat people all the time.
However, this time people can score goals
against HIV. It is very encouraging.”

Due to concerted efforts between the government
and NGOs, HIV infections have been
in decline for several years in Myanmar.
According to national statistics record in
2009, more than 240,000 people were living
with HIV. About 17,000 people were infected
with HIV and more than 17,500 people were
dying of AIDS a year.

And the infection rate of HIV among the
highest priority groups – sex workers, men
who have sex with men (MSM) and injecting
drug users have also been decreasing.

The HIV infection rate for sex workers has declined
from 33.5 in 2006 to 11.4 percent in 2010,
rates among MSM have declined from 29.3 to
11 percent and those among injecting drug users
have declined from 42.5 to 28.1 percent
World AIDS Day 2011 held on December 1
was celebrated all over the world and also in
Myanmar, including United Nations organisations,
local and international NGOs, civil society
groups, self-help groups and communitybased
organizations.

The theme for World AIDS Day was ‘Getting
to Zero: zero new infections, zero discrimination
and zero AIDS-related deaths’.
At the ceremony held in Nay Pyi Taw on
December 1, Dr Pe Thet Khin, Union Minister
for the Ministry of Health, said that although
infections are in steady decline, funding and
ART treatment are still needed.

More than 70,000 HIV patients in Myanmar
are still in need of Anti-Retroviral Treatment
(ART) said Dr Sun Gang, country coordinator
of UNAIDS.

“We only provide ART treatment to 30 percent
of patients. However, we can see tangible
results because we only provided ART to 400
people in 2004, whereas now we can reach
30,000 people.”

However, in order to provide sufficient medical
access across the country, the government
still needs to go further in providing sufficient
resources, staff and infrastructure, say experts.
Vice President Dr Sai Mauk Kham told
delegates at the eighth medical conference in
Nay Pyi Taw that it is important for the country
to increase the number of doctors as the ratio
currently stands at 2261 patients to one doctor.
Currently there are over 26,000 doctors, over
2,500 dental surgeons, over 25,000 nurses and
287 dental nurses in Myanmar, according to
the Ministry of Health.

In terms of infrastructure, there are altogether
942 hospitals including 100 hospitals
in border areas and 82 township hospitals in
2011. While in Nay Pyi Taw Division, there is
one 1000-bed general hospital, one 200-bed
hospital, two 100-bed hospitals, six 50-bed
hospitals, six regional hospitals. And 300-bed
hospital and four 500-bed special hospitals are
under construction.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/76770887/The-Myanmar-Times-Year-in-Review-2011-2011-Dec-26