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Title: Public in Myanmar urged to get children vaccinated against polio
Description: "A high ranking Myanmar health official has urged the public in the country to get their children vaccinated against polio and share the advantages of vaccination. Speaking at a mass cycling event to mark the 2019 World Polio Day at the Palace Moat in Mandalay city in central region Sunday, Minister of Health and Sports Dr. Myint Htwe said extra vaccinations were given in August and October to protect children against polio, according to the ministry Monday. Mandalay Region Chief Minister Dr. Zaw Myint Maung said the cycling event was aimed at increasing awareness of polio eradication among the public. A total of 800 cyclists participated in the event. The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced Myanmar as a polio-free country in 2014. However the polio disease was found again in the country as it failed to give vaccination to the children particularly those in the remote areas..."
Source/publisher: "Xinhua" (China)
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-10
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Title: Why we must eliminate malaria in Myanmar
Summary: "Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes, according to the World Health Organisation....
Sub-title: Malaria is said to be as old as mankind. Worldwide it has killed more people than any other disease in history. Here in Myanmar, more than 8 million people remain at high risk, and we recorded over 70,000 cases in 2018. Yet, we firmly believe that we can,
Description: "Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes, according to the World Health Organisation. However, it is preventable and curable. In the last seven years, we have witnessed extraordinary progress in the fight against malaria in the country. Cases have dropped by 85 percent and deaths by a stunning 95pc. With this current trajectory, we can end local transmission in Myanmar by 2030. There are many reasons for the recent success. The government has made malaria elimination a political priority, not only for the Ministry of Health and Sports, but for all ministries. Public health facilities and village volunteers provide free tests, treatment and care across the country. And development partners have contributed significant funding and technical expertise. This has complemented large increases in domestic resources dedicated to tackle the disease. We should celebrate progress. But we must also be mindful that the fight is not yet over. As we move closer to elimination, malaria will recede into the most remote of areas and make it harder to find the last cases. This challenge is compounded by antimalarial drug resistance in the countries surrounding the Mekong River. If drug resistance were to deepen and spread, we may have a public health disaster on our hands. We must stop drug resistance in its tracks, and the only way to do so with certainty is to eliminate the disease. Elimination will require more of what has proven successful, as well as innovation. We must increase and sustain funding, ensure that all have access to quality health care, and expand the collaboration with communities affected by malaria. We must also deepen our partnership with the corporate sector. In 2018, the Asia Pacific Leaders Malaria Alliance and Yoma Strategic Holdings launched M2030 in Myanmar, bringing together businesses, consumers and health organisations to help end malaria. Today, local companies are also raising funds for malaria programs in Myanmar, reminding consumers that they can help end this disease..."
Source/publisher: "Myanmar Times" (Myanmar)
Date of entry/update: 2019-10-09
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Title: Ayeyarwady Region health officials enjoin public to report TB cases
Summary: "“Any government hospital or private clinic that treats a patient for TB must inform the Regional Health Department immediately so that we can treat them effectively,” Dr Than Tun Aung, deputy...
Sub-title: The Ayeyarwady Regional Public Health Department is urging the public, government and social groups to immediately inform health officials of people who may have tuberculosis (TB) so that steps can be taken to control the disease.
Description: "“Any government hospital or private clinic that treats a patient for TB must inform the Regional Health Department immediately so that we can treat them effectively,” Dr Than Tun Aung, deputy director general of the Ayeyarwady Regional Health Department, said. The department launched a programme last month to treat the disease under its Tuberculosis-Diabetes Mellitus Standard Operational Procedures. The department is conducting TB and diabetes screening to determine the extent of the disease in the region. People who have been exposed to TB patients are provided medication for three months as a preventive measure. Those discovered to have full blown TB have to take medicine for six months, and those suffering from multi-drug-resistant TB must take medicine for 20 months, the department said. “To reduce new infections, the cooperation of government offices, civic groups, and the public is very important,” Dr Than Tun Aung said. The department estimated there were about 300 TB cases for every 100,000 people..."
Source/publisher: "Myanmar Times"
Date of entry/update: 2019-09-14
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Title: Rohingya Refugee Crisis - WHO Bangladesh Bi-Weekly Situation Report #15, 01 August 2019
Description: "To strengthen the District Sadar Hospital, Cox’s Bazar, WHO completed renovation of four wards there, with support from King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KS Relief). The preliminary findings of the rapid healthcare waste management assessment(HCWM) revealed that it is a priority of public health concern in the settlement, requiring special attention on setting-up robust and sustainable HCWM system in the district.....There are an estimated 913 316 Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar, according to the latest ISCG situation report (June 2019). This includes 34 172 refugees from Myanmar who registered before 31st August 2017. All refugees, including new arrivals, face compounding vulnerabilities, including in health. WHO has been responding to this crisis since September 2017. A summary of response actions from epidemiological weeks 29 and 30 of 2019 is presented below by WHO functions..."
Source/publisher: World Health Organization (WHO)
Date of entry/update: 2019-08-02
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Title: Dr Myint Htwe, Minister of Health, Myanmar, on key health sector priorities (video)
Description: "Dr Myint Htwe, Minister of Health, Myanmar, on the key health sector priorities for the new government..."
Dr Myint Htwe
Source/publisher: World Health Organization South-East Asia Region
Date of publication: 2016-09-09
Date of entry/update: 2019-06-13
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Title: Myanmar Epilepsy Initiative Piloting the WHO Programme on reducing the epilepsy treatment gap 2013-2017
Description: "Epilepsy is a major public health problem: it is a chronic noncommunicable disease of the brain that affects more than 50 million people worldwide. Epilepsy accounts for 0.5% of the global burden of disease and is associated with stigma, physical and psychiatric comorbidity, and high economic costs. Nearly 80% of people living with epilepsy reside in low- and middle-income countries, and 75% do not receive the treatment they need. Over half of the people living with epilepsy worldwide are estimated to live in Asia. In comparison with Africa, Asia has more untreated patients, with greater treatment costs and possibly higher premature mortality. According to the WHO Atlas: country resources for neurological disorders (second edition), the median number of neurologists is extremely low in South-East Asia (0.1 per 100 000 population) and the Western Pacific (1.2) – far fewer than the ratio in Europe (6.6). In Myanmar, it is estimated that around 500 000 people live with epilepsy, a prevalence of 1.1 per 1000 population. An estimated 95% of people living with epilepsy do not receive the care required. The main reasons for this include the limited number of health care providers trained to provide care and support to people living with epilepsy, the limited access to anti-seizure medications, and a lack of awareness and health education about epilepsy. For more than 20 years, the WHO has led the global movement against epilepsy. Within the framework of the Global Campaign Against Epilepsy, WHO aims to bring epilepsy “out of the shadows”, encouraging countries to prioritize epilepsy in public health planning, as well as raise awareness of the disease among health care providers and the general public. The WHO Programme on reducing the epilepsy treatment gap seeks to achieve these goals in pilot locations in Myanmar, Ghana, Mozambique and Viet Nam, which can be used as a model for scale up in other countries. The Programme offers an innovative community-based model focused on expanding the skills of nonspecialist health care providers to diagnose, treat and follow up people living with epilepsy. Epilepsy is included as a priority condition in the WHO mental health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP). It’s evidence-based guidelines facilitate delivery of interventions by nonspecialist health care providers and is used in the WHO Programme on reducing the epilepsy treatment gap to strengthen care provided for people living with epilepsy and their families. The Programme also includes strengthening of health systems to increase sustainable access to anti-seizure medications, reinforcing referral systems, ensuring better monitoring of epilepsy in health information systems, and raising awareness to support people living with epilepsy and their families. The Myanmar Epilepsy Initiative was launched in 2013 in a phased approach. In 2013, the project was initiated in the two townships of Hlegu and Hmawbi and then subsequently scaled up to Lewe, Kawhmu and Thalyinin 2014; Nyaundon, Thaton and Kyaikhto in 2015; Sagaing and Taunggyi in 2016, and Nyaunglebin and Pantanaw in 2017. The project gradually expanded to 12 townships, from seven states/regions, covering 2.9 million people. In 2013 and 2014, situation analyses and baseline surveys were carried out in the first five project townships to better understand the existing needs and resources. The prevalence of epilepsy ranged from 0.83 to 1.9 per 1000 population in the surveyed townships, with an average prevalence of 1.4 per 1000 population that was used to estimate the number of people living with epilepsy in other townships for planning purposes..."
Dr. Thant Thaw Kaung
Source/publisher: World Health Organisation (WHO)
Date of publication: 2017-01-01
Date of entry/update: 2019-06-13
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Language: English
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Title: WHO Country Cooperation Strategy Myanmar 2014–2018
Description: "The World Health Organization (WHO) Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS) 2014–2018 for Myanmar provides a coherent medium-term vision of WHO’s technical cooperation, and defines its strategic framework for working in and with the country. It aligns closely with the priorities of the National Health Policy, Strategies and Plans and is harmonized with efforts of the United Nations (UN) system for country development. The present CCS is built on the experience and achievements of the previous CCS 2008–2011 and takes into consideration the emerging country situation. It also follows the guidance of Twelfth General Programme of Work (GPW), which provides a six-year (2014–2019) vision for the Organization. GPWs set a global health agenda for all stakeholders and establish a strategic, results-based and accountable framework for WHO. The Twelfth GPW comprises five, as opposed to a previous 13, programmatic categories and one administrative category. Myanmar emerges from decades of isolation with much hope and support from the global and regional communities. The country has a high potential for rapid growth and development given its natural resources and youth representing nearly 40% of the population. Despite this, and consistent efforts for further development, Myanmar faces multiple constraints and risks that may limit its progress. For example, important disparities are apparent in access to benefits between rural areas, where about 70% of the population resides, and urban areas. In the health sector, constraints to improve the health status of the people include: access to basic health services; inequities and service availability; disparities in availability and affordability of essential medicines; adequate infrastructure and public expenditures; and trained health personnel. Myanmar has made progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs): its infant mortality rate (IMR), under five morality rate (U5MR) and maternal mortality ratio (MMR) declined between 1988 and 2007. The U5MR declined steadily since then and if this trend continues, the country will achieve the MDG4 (reduce child mortality) target of 43.3 by 2015. However, the rate in rural areas is almost twice that of urban areas, and this will also need to be addressed. IMR is also in declining trend, but challenges remain to meet the MDG target of 28.3 by 2015. Meanwhile, immunization data are encouraging; Myanmar is free from wild poliovirus transmission and measles immunization coverage increased from 82% in 2008 to 88.0% in 2011. In November 2012, Myanmar introduced Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) as a pentavalent vaccine (DPT+HepB+Hib) in the immunization programme. Based on these trends, the 2015 target of 90% coverage for DTP 3/ Penta3, free from wild poliovirus transmission is expected to be fulfilled. Reducing maternal morality under MDG5 represents a major challenge and will require significant efforts to meet the goal. About 88% of deliveries take place at home with maternal deaths overwhelmingly predominant in rural areas. On the positive side, the proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel increased from 51% in 2001 to 70.6% in 2010. MDG6 – combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases – has a major potential to be achieved by 2015. Myanmar already has achieved the goal of a 50% reduction in malaria morbidity and mortality since 2007, with use of insecticide-treated nets (ITN) more than doubling between 2004 and 2008. At the same time the tuberculosis (TB) death rate target has been achieved and the TB incidence target is on track. However, additional efforts are needed to meet the MDG target of halving the TB prevalence rate by 2015 as compared to 1990. The main challenges include finding the many undetected/unreached TB cases, scaling up multidrug-resistant (MDR) TB management and reducing the dual burden of TB and HIV/AIDS. With regard to HIV/AIDS, the epidemic is considered to have stabilized nationally since 2000, with hot spots of high HIV transmission identified at several locations. Continued focus is needed on mostatrisk groups to maintain initial positive achievements. Major challenges also exist to scale up HIV treatment, which now covers only about 1 in 3 of those in need. The strong Government commitment to comprehensive development, including the health sector, is seen in the Framework for Economic and Social Reform (FESR), which outlines key parameters of the reform process. FESR is an essential tool to realize both the short- and long-term policy agenda of the Government over the three-year period starting in 2013, i.e. focusing on both immediate actions as well as on issues that require in-depth analysis and/or consensus-building. In the health sector, the Government will focus on a number of innovative measures in health financing. Particular attention will be paid to allocating more resources to rural primary health care (PHC), infectious disease control and maternal and child health, in view of the acute need to improve health indicators in all these areas. At the ministerial level, ‘Myanmar Health Vision 2030’ was drawn up in 2000 to meet future health challenges. Supporting this ambitious, long-term health development plan, the Ministry of Health has formulated the National Health Plan (NHP) 2011–2016, which is aligned with the latest five-year National Development Plan, the Rural Health Development Plan, the Project for Upgrading Hospitals, and the National Plan for Promoting National Education. As such, the NHP is an integral part of the national economic and development blueprint. It takes account of the prevailing health problems in the country, the need to realize the health-related goals of the MDG, the significance of strengthening the health system and the growing importance of social, economic and environmental determinants of health. WHO has closely collaborated with all health stakeholders in Myanmar in the successive phases of the NHPs – its strategies and plans, resource mobilization, implementation and monitoring processes – and in providing technical advice for the development of the health sector in Myanmar. Poverty is the principal constraint to improving health status, compounded by factors affecting vulnerability, difficult-to-reach areas and conflict among ethnic groups. The Government has undertaken remarkable efforts to build understanding among these ethnic groups in order to establish a peaceful environment that fosters development. To address poverty, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) introduced the Human Development Index (HDI) in 1994, and provided a significant impact in building community capacity for self-reliance. In moving forward the socioeconomic growth of the country, official development assistance (ODA) plays a significant role in health sector programmes. The total ODA provided to Myanmar was US$ 109.5 million (US$22.6 million, 20.7% for health) in 2002, increasing in 2009 to US$ 390.7 million (US$ 61.2 million, 15.7% for health). The aid environment is expanding and reaching all development sectors. UN Country Team is also engaging in a common framework – UN Strategic Framework – to assist Myanmar. Now in its second cycle, the present UN Strategic Framework 2012–2016 addresses four priority issues: encourage inclusive growth, increase equitable access to quality social services, reduce vulnerability and promote good governance. WHO is the lead agency in health sector of the country, in which it actively collaborates in all development processes and capacity building of the health system. The CCS follows the guidance of the Twelfth General Programme of Work and regional orientations and priorities. During its elaboration, the social developments emerging from the national reform process and key health challenges confronting the country were carefully synthesized to feed into the strategic agendas and priorities. Close consideration was given to the contributions by other external partners in identifying challenges and gaps in health sector cooperation, as well as to lessons learnt from a review of WHO’s cooperation over the last CCS cycle. Special consideration was also given to accelerating achievement of the health-related MDG targets by 2015. The strategic priorities of the CCS 2014–2018 are: (1) Strengthening the health system. (2) Enhancing the achievement of communicable disease control targets. (3) Controlling the growth of the noncommunicable disease burden. (4) Promoting health throughout the life course. (5) Strengthening capacity for emergency risk management and surveillance systems for various health threats. The priority areas will be addressed through a coordinated programme of work that will seek to harness the potential strengths of stakeholders The first priority area is to enhance national capacity to strengthen the health system, including equity in health, increased access to services, and an adequate and sustainable health-care financing mechanism. The second priority area is to enhance the achievement of the communicable disease control targets and MDGs; the third priority area comprises controlling the growth of noncommunicable disease burden and minimizing the major risk factors prevalent in the environment. The fourth area aims to strengthen health system to improve the health conditions of women, children and adolescents and ensure accountability through reporting on progress towards reproductive and sexual health as part of achieving the MDGs. The fifth priority area is to prevent disease outbreaks through improved rapid response. For each of the strategic priorities, a set of main areas of focus and strategic approaches have been formulated. In addition to the five priority areas, WHO will continue its core functions as directed by its governing bodies and will actively cooperate with Myanmar on any other public health challenges. The impact of changes in budgets and staffing with required skills and competency in the WHO Country Office are expected to be moderate. The CCS will be implemented in close alignment and in harmonization with the national strategic agenda and the UN Strategic Framework. WHO will focus its efforts on achieving the targets identified by the health sector of the country..."
Professor Pe Thet Khin, Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh
Source/publisher: World Health Organisation (WHO)
Date of publication: 2018-01-01
Date of entry/update: 2019-06-13
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Language: English
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Title: WHO Myanmar: Situation report # 2: 12 August 2018 Myanmar Floods
Description: "Government is leading the response, with support provided by national and international humanitarian organizations...Ministry of Health & Sports (MoHS) leading the health response, coordinated through Health Emergency Operations Centre...Figures on population displacement to temporary evacuation sites are rapidly changing, cumulative total is 153 744 people...Continuing health service provision by MoHS with field operation visits in Bilin and Kyaikmaraw townships, Mon State3...Wells previously inundated by floodwaters were treated with chlorine in Kya-In Seikgyi Township, Kayin State by the Township Health Department...20 000 oral rehydration sachets provided to floodaffected population of Kyaikmaraw Township, Mon State through the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement5...Myanmar Medical Association, Yangon Region, deployed a medical team to Bago Region..."
Source/publisher: World Health Organisation (WHO)
Date of publication: 2018-08-12
Date of entry/update: 2019-06-13
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Title: WHO Myanmar: Situation report #1: 2 August 2018
Description: "Heavy monsoon rains since early July 2018 have resulted in flooding...Four states and regions have been affected...More than 120,000 people have been displaced in up to 288 evacuation centres...Government is leading the response, with the Ministry of Health and Sports (MoHS) spearheading the health response...MoHS activated the Health Emergency Operations Centre which have been monitoring and coordinating among central, state, and township level health departments in order to ensure an effective health response to all affected population...In Mon State, 2 826 patients received medical care from respective local health departments, and with no cases of infectious diseases of public health concern reported as at 1 Aug 2018..."
Source/publisher: World Health Organisation (WHO)
Date of publication: 2018-08-02
Date of entry/update: 2019-06-13
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Title: WHO Myanmar: Situation report #3: 23 August 2018
Description: "Emergency health sector preparedness and response meeting in MoHS led by Union Minister on 27 July 2018...Health sector coordination meeting led by Permanent secretary on 1 August 2018...Central Health Emergency Operations Center activated 24/7 until present...National Health Cluster meeting was held in MoHS, Naypyidaw, on 20 August 2018. Detailed flood-related actions and updates were shared by MoHS and health partners...Figures on population displacement are rapidly changing, cumulative total is 376 evacuation sites (51 sites remaining with 20 938 population)...It is critical to note that water levels in a total of 48 dams and reservoirs have exceeded full levels and are currently overflowing through their spillways5, while rainy season continues...Integrated allocation strategy (Myanmar Humanitarian Fund & UN Central Emergency Response Fund) for the flood response has been launched for all clusters and sectors...MoHS mobile clinics are implementing active surveillance for diseases under national surveillance (DUNS) through event-based reporting...Routine vaccination has been provided among the displaced population in Kayin State, and is planned in Bago Region..."
Source/publisher: World Health Organisation (WHO)
Date of publication: 2018-08-23
Date of entry/update: 2019-06-13
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Type: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Size: 365.4 KB
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