The official New Light of Myanmar newspaper reports in this article Secretary-1 Than Sein saying the incidence of HIV in the nation is ‘insignificant’. According to whom, Secretary-1?
Unnamed “internal and external destructive elements are making an attempt to impede the flow of international assistance including humanitarian aid into the nation”. Who would that be?
And there is something called a ‘secret AIDS test’ that is being carried out by international NGOs. Does Than Sein know secrets I don’t or is he just referring to VCT?
An astounding article.
********************************************************
Remarkable progress made in fight against AIDS due to active participation of UN agencies, NGOs and the people
New Light of Myanmar
1 October 2006
Yangon, 1 Oct - Chairman of the National Health Committee Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Thein Sein this morning attended the opening of the Specialist Hospital (Mingaladon) of Health Department under the Ministry of Health on Yangon-Pyay Road in Mingaladon Township, Yangon North District and unveiled the signboard of the facility.
Also present on the occasion were Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Yangon Command Brig-Gen Hla Htay Win, the ministers, the Mayor, members of NHC, the heads of department, resident representatives of UN agencies, those from social organizations, health staff and guests.
The opening ceremony was held in the compound of the hospital.
In his address, Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Thein Sein said that the government is taking systematic steps to provide extensive health care services to the people. At such a time, the emergence of the Specialist Hospital (Mingaladon) is something to be proud of.
In its efforts to build the nation into a peaceful, modern and developed one the government has laid down and is implementing one of the social objectives which calls for uplift of health, fitness and education standards of the entire nation.
In this regard, more hospitals, dispensaries and rural health care centres were opened the length and breadth of the nation including border areas. With the aim of bringing about equitable development across the nation each specialist hospital (200-bed) was opened in 24 special regions strategically located in the states and divisions.
Moreover, the existing hospitals were upgraded and more specialist hospitals including 200-bed ones and 300-bed ones were equipped with modern medical equipment aiming at uplift of the health standard. As a result, the health standard of the people has improved significantly.
Nowadays, some major malignant diseases have been put under control, some eradicated and some were in no position of plaguing the people. Facts and figures of UN agencies show the achievement in the health sector of Myanmar. As regards TB, malaria and HIV-AIDS, the incidence of those major diseases has decreased significantly when compared with some neighbouring countries.
According to figures issued in 2006 by UNAIDS, the incidence of HIV-AIDS in the nation was only 1.3 per cent, and according to figures issued by UNDP, the incidence was 1.2 per cent. And the incidence rate is less than that of neighbouring countries. As those figures are reliable no one can deny the fact that the incidence of HIV-AIDS in the nation is insignificant.
However, there has been the spread of rumours that Myanmar was struck by a high incidence of HIV-AIDS, ignoring those official figures.
Internal and external destructive elements are making an attempt to impede the flow of international assistance including humanitarian aid into the nation. The impediment of such assistance is a heinous act.
In getting rid of HIV-AIDS the Central Committee for Prevention and Control of AIDS led by the Minister for Health was formed. And strenuous efforts are being made in the fight against AIDS under the instructions of the minister after the forming of the AIDS prevention and control sub-committees at different levels in states, divisions, districts and townships.
With active participation of UN agencies, NGOs and the people, remarkable progress has been made in the fight against AIDS. To make the prevention and control of AIDS a success the imparting of knowledge on the spread of AIDS and the discussion with authorities at different levels were made in various parts of the nation. At the same time, preventive measures against the spread of AIDS through having sex, through drug users and from mothers to fetus, cent per cent use of condoms among the target groups, safe blood transfusion and taking care of AIDS patients were launched.
The cent per cent use of condoms among the target groups is being launched in 169 townships while treatment of drug addicts and rehabilitation is being conducted in order to prevent the spread of AIDS and venerable diseases. And the prevention of AIDS from mothers to children is being carried out in 89 townships and the blood test for AIDS is being conducted in the township hospital level.
Meantime, consoling and educating the families of AIDS victims, secret AIDS test and taking care of AIDS victims are being carried out in cooperation with social organizations. In cooperation with NGOs such as AZG, MSF (Switzerland), MDM, FXB, CARE and WVI the consoling and educating of some 250,000 people, giving ART drugs to 2,600 AIDS victims, treatment of over 20,000 patients and taking care of over 10,000 families of AIDS victims were carried out.
At present, the ministries, UN agencies, 18 social organizations and 17 NGOs are making concerted efforts in the fight against AIDS. The government is participating in the AIDS prevention projects being implemented by nations of the region, those of Mekong Basin and UN agencies. We firmly believe that the prevention and control of AIDS will make progress with the active participation of the government, the people and social organizations at home and abroad.
The emergence of the Specialist Hospital (Mingaladon) will contribute much to the realization of the tasks for prevention and control of AIDS.
In conclusion, the Secretary-1 stressed the need for all officials to make integrated efforts for the people to be able to enjoy the health care services of high standard, making better use of the newly-opened hospital.
Next, Commander Brig-Gen Hla Htay Win, Minister for Health Dr Kyaw Myint and Chairman of Yangon City Development Committee Mayor Brig-Gen Aung Thein Linn formally opened the hospital.
After that, Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Thein Sein unveiled the signboard of the facility and sprinkled it with scented water.
Afterwards, Secre-tary-1 Lt-Gen Thein Sein and members and guests inspected the hospital.
Next, Lt-Gen Thein Sein viewed round the medical ward (male), recreation room for doctors and nurses, medical store, various kinds of medicines including anti-retroviral therapy, laboratory, X-ray unit, medical ward (female) and others.
http://www.myanmar.com/newspaper/nlm/index.html
