"MSF called upon all organizations and international partners involved in HIV/AIDS to accelerate their efforts to assist the Myanmar health authorities to adapt their strategies and responses to the realities of the challenges that lay ahead"
Interesting relationship, the one between the Ministry and MSF.
Jamie
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MSF signs up to improve HIV care in Myanmar with NHL & Fondation Mérieux
On 11 December, 2014 Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) signed a Technical Cooperation Agreement (TCA) between Myanmar’s National Health Laboratory (NHL) and Fondation Mérieux to improve the capacity of the NHL and MSF to conduct viral load testing for HIV/AIDS patients in Myanmar - an essential element in effectively treating the many people living with the disease in the country.
Together with the National Aids Programme (NAP) and other organisations, MSF is a key provider of care and treatment for HIV/AIDS patients in Myanmar. Currently, MSF is providing care and treatment to more than 35,000 HIV/AIDS patients in Myanmar - almost half of all patients currently on treatment in the country - and 2014 marks 20 years since MSF engaged in HIV/AIDS treatment in Myanmar.
Viral load testing involves measuring the amount of the HIV virus in a patient’s blood and has become one of the most important tools when making decisions regarding proper treatment of the disease. The test is most often used to make sure that the medication a patient is receiving is working correctly. If a test finds a patient’s viral load is detectable or continues to increase while they are on treatment, it may be necessary to switch the treatment regimen to control the virus and protect a patient’s health.
Globally, viral load testing is the gold standard for the targeted monitoring of suspected treatment failure, however currently Myanmar and MSF lack the capacity to conduct all the necessary viral load tests without using external laboratories.
“Since 2009, MSF has developed the capacity of our HIV/AIDS referral laboratory in Yangon to conduct viral load testing,” said MSF Acting Head of Mission Jean-Christophe Dollé at the signing ceremony. “However, during the last five years the number of patients on antiretroviral treatment (ART) in Myanmar has dramatically increased and viral load monitoring for patients on second-line treatment, together with the exclusion of first line treatment failures, has created a rapid increase in the demand for testing.” Second line treatments are given to patients for whom the first line of treatment has not been successful.
Every month, MSF struggles to process close to 1,000 viral load tests requested by doctors in the 10 MSF HIV/AIDS and TB clinics in Kachin and Shan States, and Thanintharyi and Yangon regions.
“For a number of years, MSF has sought to reach out to other partners regarding various aspects of HIV/AIDS treatment,” said Mr Dollé. “With the signing of this agreement, three different partners with three different operating mechanisms are combining their efforts to develop increased capacity to perform viral load testing in Myanmar and provide better treatment for HIV/AIDS patients across the country.”
The signing ceremony was attended by NHL Director Professor Htay Htay Tin, Fondation Mérieux representative Dr Nicolas Steenkeste, Acting Head of Mission for MSF in Myanmar Jean-Christophe Dollé, and other NHL and MSF representatives, senior government health officials and distinguished guests.
The agreement involves Fondation Merieux – a non-profit independent French foundation that aims to contribute to global health by strengthening the local capacity of developing countries to reduce the impact of infectious diseases on vulnerable populations – providing the necessary equipment, transfer of technical knowledge, IT infrastructure and conducting the appropriate training. Meanwhile, MSF will provide blood samples from its patients for viral load testing, organize the purchasing of consumables required for the tests and recruit a dedicated laboratory technician that will work at the NHL.
The project will be hosted by the NHL, where NHL and MSF laboratory technicians will jointly conduct viral load testing after the training sessions are completed.
“Prior to the 2014 World Aids Day celebrations, MSF called upon all organizations and international partners involved in HIV/AIDS to accelerate their efforts to assist the Myanmar health authorities to adapt their strategies and responses to the realities of the challenges that lay ahead,” said Mr Dollé. “This agreement marks another step forward in that support, adaptation and collaboration and is a demonstration of MSF’s increased support to the Myanmar health authorities in strengthening the nation’s capacity to treat the disease.”
Aye Pyae Sone (Ms.)
National Communications Officer
Médecins Sans Frontières Myanmar
Mobile: (+95)(0)9250265712
Email: myanmar-communications-media@oca.msf.org
Skype: myanmar.communications.media.oca
Website: www.msfmyanmar.org
Office Phone Contacts
MSF-Holland: (+95)(01)122 1308; (01)855 1264
MSF-Switzerland: (+95)(01)526 194; (+95)(01)502 509
