Sad to see the at the 100 per cent condom promotion programme was launched last year in four townships, almost ten years since the [him] moderator evaluated the same programme in the same townships. What's going on?
"Cent percent targeted condom promotion programme was launched in two border townships in 2010: Kawthoung and Tachilek along with
Pyay and Bago that cope with heavy traffic"
[him] moderator
++++++++++++++++++++
Stop AIDS, Keep the Promise. Avoid Stigma & Discrimination:
Towards Universal Access
Hlaing Bwa (Parami)
THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Saturday, 4 December, 2010
It was very heartening to read the news that the
government is working hard for HIV/AIDS
prevention, treatment and care services; that about
30 specialist hospitals have been established and the
government has granted permission to 11 NGOs and
21 INGOs to care people living with HIV/AIDS;
and that Specialist Hospital (Thakayta) provides
HIV/AIDS patients with accommodations in
addition to treatment.
Following the discovery of HIV virus in the US
in 1981, the world came to notice that HIV/AIDS is
the most dangerous disease. Then, it became the
most deadliest disease for human beings. Now,
about 33.4 millions of people around the world are
infected with HIV. When the virus first came to the
information of the international community, HIV
infection was just among intravenous drug users
and womanizers. Now, the virus has spread to people
who are not likely to be infected.
Regarding HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment
and care services, Myanmar has been taking
measures of all aspects in combination as a national
duty since 1985. World countries are trying to their
best to address this issue. The virus is so powerful
that the international drive to produce drugs that
can prevent and cure the disease is still at the stage
of experiment despite varieties of attempts for
more than two decades. Mostly, HIV positive people
fail to receive treatment earlier as they keep their
conditions secret from others due to possible social
stigma, which is a barrier.
Therefore, the
government has issued many mottos, urging the
people to show empathy towards people living
with HIV and AIDS and their families and to give
psychological support without stigma and
discriminations. The age group that is more likely
to be infected with the virus represents young
people, so HIV/AIDS has adverse effect not only
on health but also social affairs, economy and
development. HIV/AIDS prevention is high on
World countries’ list of priorities. Myanmar is also
combating the disease as a national duty. AIDS
Day commemorative activities are implemented
on 1st December and following 7 days. The theme
for this year is “Stop AIDS, Keep the Promise.
Avoid Stigma and Discrimination: Towards
Universal Access”.
In Myanmar, an HIV surveillance team was
formed in 1985. The first HIV positive person in
Myanmar is a seaman who arrived back in the nation
in 1988. Only in 1991 did Myanmar see AIDS
patient. Since then, Myanmar has designated HIV/
AIDS as one of the major diseases of the national
health plan. In 1989, the National Health Committee
formed the HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control
Central Committee comprising the Ministry of
Health and related ministries and local NGOs. At
the same time, the committee formed work
committees and subcommittees at the state/region,
district and township levels.
Myanmar launched HIV Sentinel Surveillance
in 1992. So, it could bring a gradual decline in HIV
prevalence of 0.61% from 0.94 per cent. Now, there
are about 74,000 patients who need ART treatment
in Myanmar. Myanmar began Anti-retroviral
Therapy in 2005, and up to 2009, it had given
treatment to over 21,000 patients. It is learnt that
there is no country in the world that can provide
treatment to all patients who need ART treatment.
HIV/AIDS Project under the Disease Control
Division of the Department of Health is designed to
keep HIV/AIDS out of the public health problem.
National Strategic Plan on HIV/AIDS (2006-2010) is
being implemented in collaboration by related
departments, local and international NGOs, and UN
agencies. HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care
services are being carried out in accordance with the
13 strategies as 10 major programmes, as follows:—
- Local authorities, related departments and
social organizations are raising awareness
about the disease.
- Educative talks on health and correct
behaviors are being given to the people.
- Courses are being conducted for community
health staff across the nation for early
treatment for sexually transmitted diseases
regarding prevention of HIV infection
through sexual relations. The task is being
carried out in clinics and hospitals. Cent per
cent targeted condom promotion programme
was launched in two border townships in
2010: Kawthoung and Tachilek along with
Pyay and Bago that cope with heavy traffic.
Now, the drive has covered 170 townships.
- Programmes to prevent HIV spread through
intravenous drug abuse are being
implemented by departments and social
organizations across the nation especially in
Kachin State and Shan State (North).
- Programmes for mother-to-child HIV
prevention were launched in two border
townships: Kawthoung and Tachilek in 2010,
and now in 210 townships and at 38 hospitals.
- Laboratory tests are done across the nation to
ensure that blood for blood transfusion is
safe.
- TB/HIV programmes and voluntary
confidential counselling and testing services
are being provided by HIV/AIDS control
groups and TB control groups for TB/HIV.
Treatments are also given to cure the diseases
that follow AIDS.
- HIV education for life is taught as part of
curriculum in schools across the nation in
cooperation with related ministries especially
the Ministry of Health. Tasks for prevention
of HIV infection among intravenous drug
users are being carried out in cooperation
with the Central Committee for Drug Abuse
Control of the Ministry of Home Affairs; and
tasks for social assistance and care, in
cooperation with the Ministry of Social
Welfare, Relief and Resettlement. In addition,
seven UN agencies, 18 local social
organizations and 22 INGOs are working
together in line with the directives adopted
by the Ministry of Health.
- Prevention of HIV infection is being carried
out along Myanmar-Thai borderline as a
special project.
- Future programmes are being laid down
through annual reviews. The AIDS/STD
control project of the Department of Health
will implement the strategic plan (2010-
2015) through the review of the strategic
plan (2006-2010) in cooperation with
related departments, local and international
NGOs and UN agencies.
ART treatment has been given since 2005.
Now, ART treatment is available in 30 hospitals
under the Ministry of Health. ART treatment was
given to 15,191 patients in 2008 and to 21,138
patients in 2009 in cooperation with such 13 INGOs:
NAP, Alliance, AZG, AMI, FX, IOM, Malteser,
WDM, MSF-CH, PSL, Consortium, UNION and
AHRN. In Yangon, AIDS patients are given
treatment in specialist hospitals in Waibargi,
Mingaladon and Thakayta.
Well-wishers and other organizations may work
hand in hand with the government in helping and
caring any HIV/AIDS patients. In this regard, every
performance must meet health standards; must not<
br />cause public worries about spread of diseases following
AIDS; and must be effective for patients.
To ensure that HIV/AIDS patients receive
perfect health care, community-based door-todoor
health care has been given in cooperation
with local NGOs since 2006. The drive has picked
up momentum in 2010. The health care is being
provided in Hlinethaya Township, Yangon
Region, on Fridays. In the past, it was said that
HIV/AIDS was incurable. Now, there have not
been any medicines that can cure the disease.
But, now ART is easily available that can prevent
HIV virus proliferation. And patients can receive
voluntary confidential counselling and testing
services at centres for HIV infected victims. So,
HIV/AIDS patients do not need to feel
downhearted, and if they receive consolation and
health care systematically and have correct
behaviours, they can keep getting on well with
others, like other patients with chronic diseases.
Moreover, those with HIV may extend a helping
hand to the Department of Health concerned in
HIV/AIDS prevention and control, treatment and
care services.
Owing to effective encouragement and
directives given by the government, the leading
role played by the Ministry of Health, and
participation of many organizations in HIV/AIDS
prevention and control, treatment and care
services, HIV infection rate in individuals
between age group of 15-49 years was on the
gradual decrease in 2010. In order to sustain the
gradual fall in HIV infection rate and to keep
HIV/AIDS disease out of the public health
problem, the entire people including the Ministry
of Health, related ministries, local and
international NGOs, HIV-positive people and
their families should beef up disease prevention
and control tasks, raising public awareness about
the disease, and giving sustainable treatment in
order that Myanmar will be gradually free from
HIV/AIDS. I am confident that the noble plan
will be successful because it is being implemented
with genuine goodwill and effective methods.
*****
Translation: MS
