Effective drugs beat malaria
International staff: 24
National staff: 454
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The military government of Myanmar (Burma)'s spending
on health care remains very low, resulting in a shortage
of facilities, staff and medical supplies. Communicable
and infectious diseases continue to take their toll on the
population.
Fighting malaria
MSF runs several major programs targeting malaria, the
number-one cause of death in the country. The world's
most resistant strains of malaria are found along the border
with Thailand. Due to the high resistance of these
strains to traditional anti-malarial drugs, MSF exclusively
uses artemisinin-based combination therapy in Myanmar.
These medicines are fast-acting and potent, and to date no
resistance to them has been reported.
MSF malaria teams work closely with local health structures,
and hard-to-reach communities are accessed through a network of mobile clinics. In addition to treating the disease,
the teams are involved in training local health workers
and raising community awareness of malaria transmission
and prevention. MSF's malaria programs currently
span Tanintharyi division and the states of Kachin, Mon,
Rakhine and Shan. The program in Tanintharyi's Dawei district
was extended to Myeik (Mergui) district in January
2002. Programs in the other areas also continue to expand,
and MSF will treat over 100,000 patients for malaria in 2002.
Assisting marginalized groups
MSF tries to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Myanmar
through condom promotion and treatment of sexually
transmitted diseases (STDs) among sex workers. People living
with HIV/AIDS in Myanmar are often discriminated
against and have little access to health services. MSF supports
multiple clinics where care is provided for people living
with HIV/AIDS and also provides home-based care in
Kachin, Shan and the capital Yangon (Rangoon). MSF is
preparing to implement the first antiretroviral treatment
in the country in December 2002.
A new program launched in Shan state in October 2001
includes STD and HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and advocacy,
as well as treatment for malaria and tuberculosis.
2002 marks the tenth anniversary of the flight of the
mainly Muslim Rohingya refugees from Myanmar to
Bangladesh. MSF assists Rohingyas in Bangladesh and in Myanmar itself. In Rakhine state, where
Rohingyas are denied citizenship, MSF provides primary
health care at the village level, as well as malaria diagnostics
and treatment, supporting a network of 22 clinics
throughout the region.
MSF has worked in Myanmar since 1992.
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