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Information Sheet No.B-1109 (I)
- Subject: Information Sheet No.B-1109 (I)
- From: OKKAR66129@xxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 15 Oct 1999 21:52:00
MYANMAR INFORMATION COMMITTEE
YANGON
Information Sheet No.B-1109 (I) 15th October, 1999
(1) Secretary-1 Receives Health Ministers and WHO Director
On behalf of the Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council of
the Union of Myanmar Senior General Than Shwe, Secretary-1 of the State Peace
and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt received Health Ministers and
Regional Director of WHO South East Asia Region who were in Yangon for the
17th Meeting of Health Ministers of South-East Asia Region of WHO at Dagon
Yeiktha of the Ministry of Defence on 14 October.
(2) UN Assistant Secretary-General Arrives
Assistant Secretary-General of United Nations Mr. Alvaro de Soto arrived
Yangon by air on 14 October. Mr. Alvaro de Soto called on Minister for
Foreign Affairs U Win Aung at his office on the same day.
(3) 17th Meeting of Health Ministers of Countries of WHO South-East Asia
Region Concludes
The 17th Meeting of Ministers of Health of Countries of South-East Asia
Region continued for the second and final day at the Traders Hotel on 14
October. Minister for Health chaired the meeting and made a speech. Then, the
ministers and advisers held discussions and approved the draft presented by
the drafting group. The recommendations made at the meeting are to be carried
out by the countries of South-East Asia Region in a year to come. Priority is
to be given to the recommendations related to the headings such as roll back
malaria, stop TB initiative, tobacco free initiative and the use of
traditional medicine in health care system. Subjects related to health sector
reform, healthy environment, alcohol control programme and health promotion
were chosen to be discussed at the 18th Meeting of Ministers of Health. Then,
the meeting discussed the matters to be presented at the 53rd Conference of
WHO and approved the holding of the 18th Meeting of Ministers of Health in
Katmandu, Nepal, in Year 2000. The meeting concluded at 12:15 pm.
(4) Myanmar's Religious Teachings Can Significantly Prevent Spread of AIDS
The Press conference on the 17th Meeting of Health Minister's WHO
South-East Asia Region was held at Traders Hotel, Yangon on 14 October.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Health said Myanmar was able to host
the 17th Meeting of Health Minister's WHO South-East Asia Region
successfully. Health care activities are being conducted with the leadership
of the Office of WHO South-East Asia Region and future tasks have been laid
down. Health Ministers, Deputy Minister Dr. Mya Oo and Dr. Uton Muchtar
Rafei replied to queries raised by the journalists. They
said safe sex which is important in preventing AIDS and ensuring safe blood
transfusion will control 80 to 90 per cent of AIDS. There is not so much
spread of AIDS due to the arrival of a large number of tourists. If the
government of Myanmar continues its anti-AIDS efforts the country will not
reach the explosive stage of HIV. Extensive imparting of sex education is
important in controlling AIDS.
Deputy Minister for Health Dr. Mya Oo explained about Myanmar's religious
teachings. He said the concept is ''No sex before marriage''. This concept
alone can significantly prevent the spread of AIDS. Efforts are being made in
giving health education to the youths, especially school children. Myanmar's
approach is to impart sex education in accord with the cultural values and
traditions. Another important thing is transmission (HIV transmission). So
the nation has opened sexual transmitted disease clinics all over the
country. There is also a counselling centre in every
township to prevent transmission of sexual diseases. Health education is
being conducted from the media in accord with Myanmar traditions. In
Myanmar, blood transfusion is conducted only after tests to ensure that the
blood is totally clear from HIV. AIDS education programmes are important in
educating the people. Emphasis is being given by the respective governments
in controlling AIDS. Regional cooperation is required in preventing the
spread of AIDS. The disease cannot be controlled by a single country, but
should be combatted by all the nations in preventing the spread of AIDS. Not
only the regions but also the entire world should cooperate in this
programme.
Replying to a question on the Western media reports and what they
actually saw in Myanmar, the Minister for Health of Bhutan said it was his
third visit to Myanmar. He said each time he saw a lot of progress and one
could see the prosperity and various infrastructural developments taking
place in the country, that he had been outside Yangon and each time he went
round the health centres and also in the open areas where he noticed that
the people were very happy and content. He said the reaction to people like
him was warm, friendly and courteous, and he thought that was so typical of
Myanmar. He added he was not competent enough to comment on the Western
media reports but he could only tell his own experience. There was peace
and tranquillity in the country, that the country was heading for economic
progress because Myanmar is rich in natural resources and human resources
and it has not much population pressure. If all these could be combined one
could expect good results coming from it. He said another aspect for
progress is good governance and that he noticed the governance in the country
was very effective.
Giving his impressions about Myanmar, the Minister for Health of Sri
Lanka said that for national progress one would feel to open up more and
more to the world whereas it was not always so. He reminded that sometimes
if one opened up more and more one would get all the evil things in the
world which would come to one's society. The peace, satisfaction of the
people, their nature, their humbleness, their entire family life and other
areas had to be taken into considerations instead of taking the Western
standards such as per capita income. He said he felt humble people he saw
in Myanmar were happier than those from many developed countries because
they had more high potentials in life, very high aspirations in life.
The Nepalese Minister for Health said he had heard so many things about
Myanmar. He went to Bagan the previous day and he saw the people were very
hospitable, the country is very fertile, the green country, the country
has resources and the minerals, and there is peace and tranquillity. He
said because he had heard so many things outside, but in the country he
found it different. There is the birth place of Buddha in Nepal but there are
not many pagodas. But he saw a lot of pagodas in Myanmar and it was
something to be proud of.
Myanmar Minister for Health thanked the journalists and the Press
conference ended.
(5) Minister Meets National Race Leader of Kachin State Special Region 2
Minister for Industry-1 met national race leader U Tu Jaing and party of
Kachin State Special Region 2 who called at his office on 14 October. They
reported on project of a cement plant which will be constructed in Kachin
State for regional development. The minister fulfilled their requirements.
(6) Mayor arrives back from Sixth Asia Kyusu Regional Exchange Summit
Chairman of Yangon City development Committee Mayor of Yangon arrived
back here by air from the People's Republic of China after attending the
Sixth Asia Kyusu Regional Exchange Summit in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, from
8 to 11 October. The summit was attended by 200 representatives including
mayors and governors of 10 ASEAN nations, Japan and Korea. The opening
ceremony was held on 9 October with the attendance of Deputy Prime Minister
of the People's Republic of China Mr Li Lanqing together with the mayors and
governors. Those present then took part in discussions about economic
development and environmental conservation of their cities. The Seventh Asia
Kyusu Regional Exchange Summit will be held in Oita Prefecture, Japan.
(7) Ambassador U Tin Winn Accredited to Argentina
The Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council of the Union of
Myanmar has appointed U Tin Winn, Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of the Union of Myanmar to the United States of America,
concurrently as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Union of
Myanmar to the Republic of Argentina.
(8) Myanmar Delegation Leaves for Indonesia
At the invitation of Association of South-East Asian Nations, a four
member delegation led by
Director-General of Department of Cultural Institute, Ministry of Culture,
Chairman of ASEAN Culture and Information Committee left Yangon by air on 14
October for Indonesia to attend 1st Culture Subcommittee meeting on ASEAN to
be held from 15 to 17 October.
(9) Second Leg of Myanmar London Gold Tour Begins in Mandalay
The second leg of Myanmar London Gold Tour began at Mandalay Yaetagon
Taung Golf Club on 14 October with the co-sponsorship of Myanmar Golf
Federation, Myanmar Professional Golfers' Association and with the assistance
of Rothmans of Pall Mall Myanmar Pte Ltd.
After the first round, in professional golfers' division, Win Aung is
leading with 71 strokes, Win Naing Tun, Aung Zaw Moe and Nay Win Myint
tied at 72 and Myint Thaung is behind them with 73. In men's amateur
division, Soe Paing Win is leading with 71 strokes. Min Naing is at the
second with 72 and Aung Than Htaik was at the third with 73.
(10) Japan to Grant Assistance for Four BEPSs
A grant contract was signed at Basic Education High School No. 6,
Botahtaung, on 14 October to provide assistance from Japan to construct new
buildings at four basic education primary schools in Myanmar. The ambassador
explained the purpose of the assistance.
(11) Jade Lots Fetch over $ 1.3 Million
Sale of gems by competitive bidding at the Mid-Year Gems Emporium was
being held at the Myanma Gems Emporium Hall, Yangon on 14 October. 150 lots
of jade worth US $ 1350875 were sold at the gems emporium. A total of US $
17362 was realized from sale of jewellery and jade sculpture at fixed prices.
Sale of jade lots will go on today. Altogether 508 local and foreign gem
merchants have arrived.
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