I'm not sure what extra value this ART centre adds over other ART centres in Yangon.
Though it is good to hear that coverage of antiretroviral treatment for HIV in Myanmar 60% by midyear 2017. How many people initiated treatment since June?
Jamie
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ART centre opens in Yangon Central Women’s Hospital
Myint Kay Thi
Myanmar Times
12 January 2018
An anti-retroviral treatment Centre (ART Centre) opened in Yangon Central Women’s Hospital on January 11.
The centre will provide testing, screening, counseling and treatment for pregnant women and women with HIV. The centre opens Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9am to 4pm.
The hospital has been providing patients with HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C tests free of charge since the opening ceremony of the ART centre, said Dr Pa Pa, Senior Medical Superintendent of the hospital.
She added that the ART centre will provide comprehensive services for pregnant women and women living with HIV and their families if also contaminated.
“According to the hospital registry, nearly 15,000 patients who came to the hospital have been tested and 1.2 percent tested HIV-positive,” she said.
Patients can easily access the ART at the hospital since the opening of the centre, which will contribute to reducing HIV transmissions from mother to child.
Myanmar aims to eliminate mother- to-child transmissions by 2025.
“If we can provide early treatment to the mother, we can prevent the transmission to her baby. Pregnant women may be infected with HIV from sexual intercourse or from other causes, such as blood transfers,” said Dr Tun Nyunt Oo, program manager of the National AIDS program under the Ministry of Health and Sports.
According to June 2017’s statistics, 530,000 pregnant women have been blood–tested by the program. Current HIV prevalence among pregnancy is 0.30 percent.
According to the National AIDS program (NAP), the prevention of mother-to-child-transmission program started in two townships, Tarchilate and Kawthaung, on the border of Myanmar and Thailand. The program extended to 319 townships throughout the country.
In June 2017, 135,000 people living with HIV were receiving ART. 225,000 people currently live with HIV in Myanmar, according to NAP.
https://www.mmtimes.com/news/art-centre-opens-yangon-central-womens-hospital.html




