THE 15th Myanmar Health Sector Coordinating Committee meeting was held in Ministry of Health and Sports, Nay Pyi Taw on 29 April.

At the meeting Union Minister Dr. Myint Htwe said as there were many organizations participating in health sector works and cooperation and systematic coordination becomes important. Effective strategies, work processes and frameworks need to be established to strengthen exchange of news and information, cooperation and connections between ministerial departments, United Nations organization, INGOs/local NGOs and partner organizations.

Having work sector wise cooperative framework drawn up between ministerial department and cooperating organizations will support in assessing work conducted and successes achieved. INGO/Local NGO and partner organizations should prepare year wise work achievement books. Ministry’s health programs are to include in their annual report the works of the partner organizations participating in the programs. The ministry was prioritizing prevention and eradication work on non-contagious diseases and every Wednesday clinics were opened to test and treat hypertension and diabetes. The work of these clinics will be reviewed and assesses to make it better. Resource flow analysis on government funds and organization funds also need to be done.

All need to cooperate and coordinate toward achieving more progress and development said the Union Minister.

Next, explanations were made by M-HSCC Secretariat Mr. Ole on “tracking of last meeting minutes actions points;” Save the Children on Global Fund Reinvestment Plan of HIV, TB and Malaria; Director (non-contagious) Dr. Kyaw Kan Kaung on Response to NCD and Action Plan Development; Technical Advisor Mr. Leigh Mitchell on Myanmar’s Aid Information Management System; Deputy Director General (disease eradication) Dr. Thanda Lwin on Restructuring of Myanmar Health Sector Coordination Committee; UNOPS and Save the Children on Reports of Global Fund Grants Implementation; Assistant Secretary (NIMU) Dr. Thant Zin Htoo on Updates from NIMU on health financing and mapping of ODA to health sector and discussion and 7 Technical Strategy Groups on Latest data on work conducted and Updates from Regional Steering Committee Meeting. Attendees also join in to discuss and provide suggestions. —MNA (Translated by Zaw Min)