[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index
][Thread Index
]
VOA-BURMA / AIDS
- Subject: VOA-BURMA / AIDS
- From: tinkyi@xxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 08 Apr 1999 20:10:00
DATE=4/8/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247777
TITLE=BURMA / AIDS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=GERALDINE CARROLL
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS SAYS BURMA'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT IS
REFUSING TO RECOGNIZE THE COUNTRY'S GROWING AIDS / H-I-V
CRISIS. THE JOINT PROGRAM ON H-I-V/AIDS - OR U-NAIDS - SAYS THE
EPIDEMIC COULD SPILL OVER BURMA'S BORDERS AND ENDANGER OTHER
SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS. GERALDINE CARROLL REPORTS FROM BANGKOK.
TEXT: BURMA HAS THE WORST AIDS EPIDEMIC IN SOUTHEAST ASIA--
EXCEPT FOR CAMBODIA.
THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT REFUSES TO DISCLOSE OFFICIAL STATISTICS,
BUT U-NAIDS ESTIMATES THERE ARE NOW 440-THOUSAND CASES OF AIDS
OR H-I-V, THE VIRUS THAT CAUSES THE DISEASE, IN BURMA - ALSO
KNOWN AS MYANMAR.
DR. PETER PIOT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF U-NAIDS, SAYS IN THE
INTEREST OF OTHER COUNTRIES, NOT JUST BURMA, THE RANGOON
GOVERNMENT MUST FACE UP TO THE PROBLEM.
// ACTS PIOT BEGINS //
WE NEED TO CONCENTRATE OUR EFFORTS ON MYANMAR AND
CONVINCE THE GOVERNMENT THAT THIS IS A MATTER, NOT ONLY
FOR THE WELL-BEING OF THE PEOPLE, BUT ALSO OF NATIONAL
SECURITY. IT'S ALSO IN THE INTEREST OF ALL THE
COUNTRIES IN THE REGION THAT THE AIDS EPIDEMIC IN
MYANMAR IS NOT GETTING COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL.
// ACTS PIOT ENDS //
U-NAIDS SAYS SEVEN POINT TWO MILLION PEOPLE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
ARE LIVING WITH AIDS OR H-I-V. IT SAYS ONE FIFTH OF THOSE
PEOPLE WERE INFECTED IN THE LAST YEAR ALONE.
AND DR. PIOT SAYS VICTIMS OF THE EPIDEMIC ARE GETTING YOUNGER --
MORE THAN HALF OF ALL NEW INFECTIONS HIT PEOPLE UNDER 25 YEARS
OLD.
// ACTS PIOT BEGINS //
THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE
INFECTED ARE INFECTED THROUGH SEX. AND THAT'S SOMETHING
THAT WE SHOULD ALSO NOT FORGET. FOR GIRLS PARTICULARLY
THAT MEANS COERCED SEX, SEXUAL ABUSE PARTICULARLY WHEN
THEY'RE YOUNG, AND THEN LATER ON IT IS JUST HETEROSEXUAL
TRANSMISSION AND ALSO MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN.
// ACTS PIOT ENDS//
THE UNITED NATION CHILDREN'S AID ORGANIZATION -- UNICEF -- IS
THE ONLY INTERNATIONAL GROUP ALLOWED TO TEACH AIDS AWARENESS TO
YOUNG PEOPLE IN BURMA. BUT DR. PIOT SAYS UNTIL THE GOVERNMENT
ACKNOWLEDGES THE EXISTENCE OF AIDS AND ALLOWS MORE PREVENTION
PROGRAMS TO REACH ALL COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, THE
EPIDEMIC WILL GET WORSE.
// ACTS PIOT BEGINS //
WE KNOW THAT ONE OF THE MAJOR STRENGTHS OF THE THAI
PROGRAM AND OTHER PROGRAMS HAS BEEN THE GRASSROOTS
ORGANIZATIONS AND MAKING SURE THAT AT THE COMMUNITY
LEVEL - THAT'S WHERE THE ACTION IS. AGAIN, THERE IN
MYANMAR AT THE MOMENT, THAT'S NOT THE STRONGEST SIDE
BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT IS THERE AND WE HAVE CIVIL
SOCIETY - AND THERE IS A TOTAL BREAKDOWN.
// ACTS PIOT ENDS //
BURMA'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT DID NOT RESPOND TO REQUESTS FOR
COMMENT ON THIS REPORT. U-NAIDS SAYS IF BURMA REMAINS SILENT ON
H-I-V/AIDS, THE EPIDEMIC WILL AFFECT GENERATIONS TO COME.
(SIGNED)
NEB/GC/GC/PLM
08-Apr-99 6:13 AM EDT (1013 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.