Information Sheet N0.A-0727(I)

[OKKAR66129@xxxxxxx]

MYANMAR  INFORMATION  COMMITTEE
YANGON
Information  Sheet

                               N0.A-0727(I)             13th  December 1998 	

(1)		Fourth Year National Immunization Days Launched

		The opening ceremony of the Fourth Year National Immunization Days was held
at the International Business Centre on Pyay Road on 12 December morning.
Deputy Minister for Health read the address of Chairman of the National Health
Committee Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin
Nyunt. In his address, the Secretary-1 said; In order to ensure that the new
generation is fit and healthy. The first, second and third year NIDs were
launched and 96%, 99% and 97% coverage was attained respectively. At a time
when the countries of the world are united in their endeavours to eradicate
polio by the year 2000, Myanmar together with her neighbouring countries of
Nepal, India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Thailand and Yunnan province in
China are also having their national Immunization Days in December and January
as a regional synchronization strategy like last year. By doing this,
poliomyelitis transmission will be interrupted and eradication of polio will
be achieved in the near future. In Myanmar, the number of reported
poliomyelitis cases in 1988 was 60 but there was only 9 cases in 1996. The
first, second and third year NIDs were able to achieve a figure of 5,330000
and about 5,500,000 and  about 5,503,998 under-five year old children who
received polio immunization respectively.

		This year's poliomyelitis eradication activities target approximately 5.8
million under-five children, which is a task of enormous proportions. Myanmar
have thus organised meticulously at the central, state/division, district,
township and village levels in order to manage the activities. Accordingly,
down-the-line instructions have been circulated to
State/division/district/township levels up to the immunization teams so that
full support will be given to health personnel by administrative authorities
and order sectors to make the 4th year National Immunization Days a success.
Once this ceremony has been inaugurated, National Immunization Days activities
will be carried out simultaneously all over the country including the remote
borders areas. The public has been informed about the importance of the
National Immunization Days and the value of oral polio vaccine through mass
media as well as through individual, family and  group education. 

		Not only are these activities being carried out but also one the 17 January
1999 when the second round of the NIDs will take place. On behalf of the
people of Myanmar, he thanked the United Nations agencies such as the World
Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the governments of Japan and Australia,
Rotary International, JICA, Japan Committee, Vaccines for the World's Children
(JVC) and Centre for Disease Control (CDC Atlanta) and other NGOs who have
contributed technical and financial assistance. He also placed on record the
voluntary work that is being provided by the members of the Union Solidarity
and Development Association, Myanmar Medical and Nurses' Associations, Myanmar
Health-Assistants' Association, Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare
Associations Myanmar Red Cross Society and Auxiliary Fire-Brigade as well as
the co-operation of the community. These volunteers constitute the majority of
the 180,000 personnel of 37,000 vaccination teams needed for the successful
implementation of the fourth year National Immunization Days. After the
opening ceremony, Deputy Minister, officials and guests gave polio vaccine to
the under-five children of Hline Township.

(2)		Myanmar Wins One Silver, One Bronze 12 December

		Myanmar women's team met Thai women's team in final match of Women's Sepak
Takraw Contest of the XIII Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand, on 12 December
afternoon. Myanmar women's team won silver medal. Aye Mon Khin stood third in
75-kilo class weightlifting contest, China lifted first with 242.5 kilos,
South Korea second with 230 kilos and Aye Mon Khin third with 230 kilos. Aye
Mon Khin was left in the third place because she weighed 0.7 kilo more than
the South Korean though the two set the same record.
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