Tackling the burden of TB-HIV co-infection

Lwin Lwin Thant, CNS Correspondent, Myanmar

Photo credit: CNS

The deadly combination of infections by Mycobacterium TB and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) appear as a dual epidemic concern in Myanmar. HIV/AIDS cases are reported from large urban areas. Key populations at high risk of HIV are female sex workers and their clients, men who have sex with men and people who inject drugs. Unprotected sex with female sex workers, among men who have sex with men, and among injecting drug users, is also reported to be highly risk as far as contracting HIV is concerned. In Myanmar, HIV related deaths reached their highest point at 19,000 in 2005, but have since decreased as access to anti-retroviral therapies (ART) in the public and NGO sectors of Myanmar increased after 2005. 

Myanmar's dual public health challenge: TB and Diabetes

Lwin Lwin Thant, CNS Correspondent, Myanmar

Photo credit: CNS: citizen-news.org

Diabetes Mellitus (DM), a chronic disease, is not only increasing globally but is also associated with higher risks of TB and adversely impacts the outcomes of TB treatment. Like other developing countries, Myanmar too faces the double burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases, due to the socio-economic transition that occurred in recent times.

Detecting anti-TB drug resistance upfront is a public health imperative

Lwin Lwin Thant, CNS Correspondent, Myanmar

Photo credit: CNS: citizen-news.org

TB is a curable disease, but only when treated with complete course of drugs effective for a particular individual. If a person is resistant to one or more of anti-TB drugs given in a therapy then it can spell a public health disaster. So it is a public health imperative to detect drug resistance if any at the time of TB diagnosis and treat the person with drugs-that-work for her/him.

PICTS accelerating new TB case finding in Myanmar

Lwin Lwin Thant, CNS Correspondent, Myanmar

Photo credit: Lwin Lwin Thant

More than nine million people around the world become ill with tuberculosis each year. About one-third of them fail to get an accurate diagnosis or effective treatment and are more likely to die from this curable disease. We have to reach this missing 3 million by finding and treating people in the poorest and most vulnerable communities in the world.

Positive Impact of Commission on HIV and the Law in Asia-Pacific

Lwin Lwin Thant - CNS
Since the launch of the Global Commission on HIV and the Law report in July 2012, there have been significant positive outcomes shaping in the Asia-Pacific region. “Today there are 82 countries across the world where UNDP, UN partners, civil society organizations among others have been working together and followed up on the recommendations of this report. We assume this is a good follow up which includes reviewing legal environments in the country, working with judiciary, police, and parliamentarians, and increasing access to justice programmes. There has been very interesting follow-up in the Asia Pacific region too on a range of issues including key populations, intellectual property (IP) and treatment access, among others” said Mandeep Dhaliwal, Director (HIV, Health and Development Practice), UNDP.

Community volunteers making a difference in addressing TB and HIV

Lwin Lwin Thant, Myanmar
Had it not been for community volunteers, a person co-infected with TB and HIV would not have been able to get proper care in Myanmar. When the thin and faded seventy years old mother asked, "Mg Swe…..How are you feeling today?". Mg Swe, lying in bed and writhing with pain, answered "I am alright, A May (Mum)." Mg Swe is a 46 years old, single man who has only one leg. He joined the army in 1985 out of despondency due to his parents’ divorce. Four years later, when there was the sea-island battle with Kayin People in Tanitaryee Division, he lost his left leg in that war.

HIV, drug-resistant TB, Hepatitis B Virus: Story of struggle and hope

Lwin Lwin Thant, Myanmar
 [Lwin Lwin interviewed a person living with HIV, drug-resistant TB and Hepatitis B Virus in Myanmar. She is presenting the story as was told to her below]
“Ma Mya!.. Ma Mya!.. Ma Mya!” I heard my name being called out loud and impatiently from the street while I was busy with housekeeping for my family. Worried, I rushed out of my house and found a nurse from the township medical clinic waiting for me.