Myanmar the urgent need for AIDS prevention and control of international aid equal
 
 
 
 
Li Zhiqiang newspaper reporter in Yangon Published: 2009-06-22 07:39 Source: Guangming Daily
 

According to the latest figures of the Ministry of Health of Myanmar, Myanmar government in 2006 introduced the five-year National Strategy for AIDS prevention and control program, HIV carriers and AIDS patients from the peak of the ratio in 2000 dropped to 1.5 percent of 6.7 ‰. However, Myanmar is still the current AIDS situation in Asia one of the most serious, urgent need for effective social equality from the international financial and technical assistance.

Since 1991, the first cases of AIDS since the Government of Myanmar to the work force
Degrees was increasing year by year trend, the growing AIDS staff in the international assistance, the Burmese in antiretroviral drug treatment, to promote the use of condoms to prevent mother-to-child transmission, sexually transmitted diseases treatment, and prevention campaigns and skills education in schools have carried out a lot of work. In 2006, the Burmese government has appointed as the new Minister of Health set up to coordinate AIDS prevention and control of the Chairman of the Committee by the Ministry of Health as a subordinate executives and technical team, the team members from 25 government departments, United Nations agencies in Myanmar , as well as international and local non-governmental organizations, to strengthen the management, the Myanmar government has to absorb some of the relative concentration of AIDS in communities.

United Nations AIDS representative of the Department in Rangoon a few days ago, Sun said in an exclusive interview with this newspaper, in 2007 a comprehensive study of the data showed that 67 percent of Myanmar's sex workers, 14.7 percent of male homosexuals and 14% of drug users for HIV carriers and infected persons. Some results obtained at the same time, AIDS prevention and control work here, there are blind spots, such as in prisons and in particular the ethnic minorities in remote areas, AIDS prevention and control work needed to strengthen.

Department of Myanmar, the United Nations AIDS office in AIDS policy development, research, technical support, advocacy and coordination in Myanmar Collaborative Government has made a lot of work. Sun pointed out that, at present nearly 40 international and local non-governmental organizations engaged in relief and prevention of AIDS, but far from enough. August 2007, the Myanmar Government, together with UNAIDS co-ordination of relevant agencies including the Department and non-governmental organizations to carry out a survey, about 242,000 new cases of HIV infection, accounting for the total population of 6.7 ‰, than the 2000 peak years (15%) decreased. However, patients receiving treatment only 15% die each year from a preliminary estimate of the number of AIDS-related diseases are still 20,000 cases.

Analysts generally agreed that the current AIDS in Myanmar, the biggest problem is inadequate funding and lack of resources, a high degree, especially from the outside world little international assistance. It is estimated that each year the Government of Myanmar to the special funds for AIDS prevention and control of only about 200,000 U.S. dollars. With other less developed Asian and African developing countries, foreign aid to Myanmar is not only temporary relief for AIDS, but simply to rely on. On international assistance, according to the United Nations Development Program, 2007/2008 annual figures published by neighboring Indochina Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, in 2005 the amount of foreign aid per capita was 23 U.S. dollars respectively, 49.9 U.S. dollars and 38.2 U.S. dollars, while the same period in Myanmar only 2.9 U.S. dollars per capita. In accordance with the provisions of assistance, Myanmar and Cambodia and the older four countries for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria 3 major regional focus on disease prevention and control of the amount of special assistance, must be within reach of all the 40% of the total foreign aid. If the three diseases in accordance with the proportion of one-to-one rough count, the per capita AIDS in Myanmar's international assistance was only about 30 cents. This is obviously a far cry from the actual needs.

Internal information of the United Nations, Myanmar received little international assistance, in per capita AIDS receive only one-eighth of Cambodia, Cambodia in an AIDS assistance to more than the total foreign aid to Myanmar's和. Severe lack of funds, basic drugs will make it difficult to guarantee the prevention of AIDS in Myanmar more long and difficult road. Myanmar the urgent need for AIDS prevention and control of international assistance equality.

(Yangon our power June 20)