Where is the World Health Organisation when you need them? Why hasn't the World Health Organisation made a statement on the conditions at the shelter and the spread of drug resistant tuberculosis? If there is evidence that conditions at the shelter spread drug resistant tuberculosis then WHO should say so. If there is no evidence then WHO should make a statement to that effect. It is time to show a bit of moral courage here.
[him] moderator
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Measures to prevent HIV/AIDS, to give treatment to patients being taken
systematically in Myanmar
The New Light of Myanmar
23 November 2010
MoH explains HIV/AIDS shelter in Dagon Myothit (South) about possible
spread of infection from it
Nay Pyi Taw - The Health Department of the Ministry of Health has taken
measures for prevention and control of HIV/AIDS under the directive of the
National Health Committee.
The department is extensively engaged in consultation and conducting
educative talks on health in an effort to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS in
the country.
Besides, Special Hospital (Waibargi) in North Okkalapa Township and
Special Hospital in Mingaladon Township are providing treatment to
HIV/AIDS in-patients and out-patients. Moreover, Special Hospital
(Thakayta) was inaugurated on 5 August 2010 for HIV/AIDS patients who need
to undergo follow-up treatment. At present, there are 59 in-patients and
150 out-patients at Special Hospital (Waibargi), 55 in-patients and 67
outpatients at Special Hospital (Mingaladon) and seven in-patients and
seven out-patients at Special Hospital (Thakayta).
Meanwhile, 30 other specialist hospitals under the Ministry of Health are
providing medical treatment to HIV/AIDS patients, and 11 NGOs and 21 INGOs
have been allowed to take care of the patients in Myanmar. To be able to
do so, INGOs needs to sign MoU with the Ministry of Health and NGOs need
to register at Ministry of Home Affairs. For a clinic, the size of the
building and registered doctors set by the Ministry of Health and
treatment provided under the recommendation of the specialists are
required, and a monthly report from the clinic is to be presented.
A group led by Daw Phyu Phyu Thin has been providing shelter and medical
treatment to HIV/ AIDS patients at the home, No. 376, Kanbawza-2 Street,
Ward-18, Dagon Myothit (South) Township. With that regard, a medical team
led by Head of Yangon Region Health Department Dr Hla Myint went to the
shelter on 7 July 2010 and 11 August 2010 and explained the group that as
there are many patients at the shelter with a limited space for the
patients it can be the sources of drug-resistant TB cases which are the
complications of HIV/AIDS. During the meeting, the medical team urged
those from the shelter to send the patients to Special Hospital (Thakayta)
as preparations have already been made at the facility.
Since the patients at the home did not undergo treatment at the hospital,
the medical team led by Dr. Hla Myint met with responsible persons of the
home again at the Dagon Myothit (South) Township People’s Hospital on 20
November. During the meeting from 10.5 to 10.3 am, the team told them that
allowing patients with the infectious disease live together in such a
condition could make their health worse. Out of the patients at the home,
30 patients are also infected with tuberculosis, and it is concerned over
the possible spread of the virus from the patients to neignbours, the team
said. It also said that arrangement are to be made for the patients to
undergo medical treatment at Special Hospital (Thakayta) which has already
prepared for not only treatment but also meals for them. At the meeting,
the host thanked the team for the arrangement and replied that they will
transfer the patients to the hospital when they get permission from the
group.
Officials from the Ministry of Health explained those from the home about
the possible spread of infectious disease from the patients for the sake
of the patients and neighbours as the patients are living at a home and
suggested the host to follow the instructions.
- MNA
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