28 July

Union Minister for Health and Sports Dr Myint Htwe hosted the delegates of The Defeat-NCD Partnership, who visited his office in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday, to explain the project on prevention and control of non-communicable diseases in Myanmar.

Firstly, Programme Coordinator for Myanmar Mr Bhupinder Tomar discussed the objective of the National Costed Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (2021-2022), the strategies, the relevant activities, as well as costs for diagnosis and treatments. The National Costed Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (2021-2022) will be jointly carried out by the Ministry of Health and Sports and The Defeat-NCD Partnership.

Mr Bhupinder Tomar and the HelpAge International’s project manager Dr Kay Khaing Lin presented a project proposal, jointly carried out by The Defeat-NCD Partnership and the HelpAge International, to be submitted to the World Diabetes Foundation.

During the meeting, the Union Minister Dr Myint Htwe pointed out that if Myanmar fails to exert efforts to prevent and control the diseases, non-communicable diseases can be a major public health problem in five years in the country.

Currently, 16 station hospitals, 144 local healthcare centres, 278 Maternal and Child Healthcare centres, 1,715 rural health centres, 7,317 sub-centres, and 16 border clinics are providing free diagnosis and treatment services for diabetes and hypertension.

The Union Minister said that his office will open more clinics that will provide free healthcare services for non-communicable diseases.

Unhealthy lifestyle factors are at the root of the non-communicable disease crisis, so the Ministry is providing health education services, said the Union Minister. He also highlighted that the joint project of the Ministry and The Defeat-NCD Partnership will include health education services.

The project will have 49 tasks. Important tasks need to be given higher priority, said the Union Minister, emphasizing that a committee need to be formed to monitor and review the project.

Permanent Secretary Dr Thet Khaing Win, Director General Dr Thar Tun Kyaw, Deputy Director General Kyaw Kan Kaung (Non-Communicable Diseases Department) and other attendees made discussions and suggestions. 

MNA (Translated by Maung Maung Swe)