Yangon, 25 March

A ceremony to mark World TB Day was held at the town hall of Dagon Township (South) in Yangon region this morning.

At the event, Union Minister Dr. Myint Htwe in his speech said that TB still exists as a public health problem in the world and the ministry is trying to ensure that Myanmar is not in 30 top countries with the highest incident of TB. According to Global TB Report (2018), 358 people out of 100,000 were diagnosed with TB in 2017 and 9.3 percent of TB patients were living with HIV/ AIDS. Five percent of new TB patients became TB drug resistant. The fight against TB will only be a success with the participation of the people and social organizations.

The ministry on its part has drawn and been implementing 5-year National Strategic Plan in the fight against TB based on “End TB Strategy” adopted by WHO to meet the expectations by 2035. The ministry has been implementing strategies adopted in line with the country’s economic and social situations. The ministry is in collaboration with 30 partnership organizations at home and abroad as well as 2400 external general doctors in the fight against TB. The fight against TB will be a success only if statistics for TB patients is available and Mandatory TB Case Notification was made public on 18 September, 2018. Public hospitals, clinics and laboratories are needed to report TB cases to the ministry.

In the fight against TB, the government allotted K 14 million in 1995-1996 fiscal year, K 5568 million in 2016-2017 fiscal year, K 4241 million in 2017-2018 fiscal year and over K 4000 million in 2018-2019 fiscal year. In 2017, World Fund and 3MDG provided the ministry with US$ 19 million and US$ 1.2 million respectively. These financial aids have been used efficiently and effectively, said the minister.

Then, the Region Hluttaw speaker U Tin Maung Tun made a speech and  Country Director Dr. Stephan Paul Jost of WHO read out the message sent by Regional Director of WHO. 

Afterwards, Myanmar TB Association patron Professor Dr. Kyaw Myint explained activities of the association in fighting TB and Mission Director Ms. Teresa McGhie from USAID presented works and aids given in the fight against TB. 

Then, the Union Minister and party presented prizes to award-wining townships and outstanding lab technicians who actively participated in the firght against TB and viewed round commemorative booths.—MNA

Translated by Khine Thaw