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Dr Saw Lwin, Deputy
Director General, Department of Health, giving an opening speech at the
launching ceremony of the DOTS-Plus Programme for
the Management of Multidrug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in Myanmar at
Aung San TB Hospital.
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The Ministry of Health, Myanmar and the World Health
Organization organized the Launching ceremony of DOTS-Plus (Directly Observed
Treatment Short course - Plus) Programme for the
management of MDR-TB in Myanmar, on Thursday 9 July 2009, at 10:00 am, at the
Training Hall of the National TB Reference Laboratory, in the compound of TB
Hospital Aung San, Yangon. The enrolment of the first MDR-TB patients on
second-line TB treatment is a major milestone for TB control in Myanmar. The
MRD-TB management pilot programme have been jointly implemented by the National TB programme and Medecins Sans Frantieres Holland, with technical assistance of WHO, and
will enroll a first group of 275 MDR-TB patients over the next 2 years.
The ceremony was opened by the Deputy Director General Dr
Saw Lwin who delivered an opening speech. In his speech Deputy Director
General highlighted the long history of TB control programme
in Myanmar
over the last forty years. Myanmar
is among the 22 TB high burden countries, the 27 multidrug resistant and
extensively resistant TB burden countries and among the 41 TB/HIV burden
countries in the world.
The second national drug resistance survey was performed
in 2007 and found 4.2% and 10% MDR-TB in new TB patients and previously
treated patients respectively.
Based on the results, it is estimated that in 2007, there
were 2,383 MDR-TB patients in Myanmar:
1,703 among new TB patients and 680 among previously treated patients.
Dr Han’s H Kluge, Acting WHO Representative, mentioned in
his welcome speech about partnership approach among MOH, WHO, Medical
Universities, INGOs and NGOs. He also thanked to
UNITAID for the second line drugs; USAIDS and 3DF for financial support; MSF
Holland for an excellent cooperation; local NGOs and INGOs
as PSI and World Vision for helping in community awareness and case
management in MDR-TB Management.
Mr Luke Arend, chief on MSF Holland/ Myanmar
gave opening remarks that they will cooperate well and give financial and
technical support as much as they can in the Pilot Programme.
The ceremony was attended by Senior officials from
Departments under the Ministry of Health; Officials from Australia, US, British, Japanese Embassies;
Representatives from USAIDS, UNOPS, TOTAL Myanmar,
UNION, UNDP, UNAIDS, UNICEF, JICA Myanmar: Representatives from INGOs such as MSF Holland, MSF Switzerland, PSI/ Myanmar, and
World Vision.
Later, Deputy Director General Dr Saw Lwin, Dr Han’s H
Kluge (Acting WHO Representative) and Dr San Win Maung (MSF Holland)
delivered the first dose to each MDR-TB patient in new MDR-TB ward, Aung San
TB Hospital.
The second Launching ceremony of DOTS-Plus Programme for the management of MDR-TB in Mandalay was organized on Wednesday 15 July 2009, at 10:00
am, at the Meeting Hall of the Patheingyi TB
Hospital, Mandalay.
Director of Disease Control Dr Win Maung, Acting WR Dr Han’s H Kluge, Dr
Thandar Lwin Programme Manager (TB) and invited
guests were attended. The first dose to (4) MDR-TB patients were given by
Director of Disease Control Dr Win Maung, Acting WR Dr Han’s H Kluge and
distinguished guests.
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