- Author
- International Crisis Group
- Title
- Myanmar: Update on HIV/AIDS Policy
- In
- Asia Briefing N°34
- Imprint
- International Crisis Group, Yangon/Brussels, 16 December 2004, 16 pp
- Description
Reproduced with the International Crisis Group's kind permission.
- Abstract
"Myanmar's military government has acknowledged its serious HIV/AIDS problem in the two years since Crisis Group published a briefing paper. This has permitted health professionals, international organisations and donors to begin a coordinated response. The international community has boosted funding and shown more willingness to find ways to help victims and counter the pandemic. Some
government obstacles have been removed although the regime's closed nature is unaltered. The opposition National League for Democracy (NLD), which has generally opposed aid involving contact with the junta, has supported many HIV/AIDS steps because of the humanitarian imperative. The urgent need now is to boost the local staff capabilities and make more effective use of the money flowing into the country. In the process civil society and small NGOs and other local organisations can be fostered that can eventually help prepare a democratic transition. Significant problems remain. About 1.3 per cent of Myanmar's adults are believed to be infected with the virus, one of the highest rates in Asia. Government spending on health and education is perilously low, and the economy has been grossly mismanaged by the military. HIV continues to present serious risks to the population, to security and to Myanmar's neighbours."
Related Entries
Countries
NGOs or Civil Society Organisations
Topics
- Care and support
- Condoms
- HIV and AIDS
- Injecting drug use
- NGOs
- Resource mobilisation
- Sex workers and clients
- Uniformed services
Related Published Resources
hasCitationTo
- International Crisis Group, Myanmar: The HIV/AIDS Crisis, Asia Briefing N°15, International Crisis Group, Bangkok/Brussels, 2 April 2002, 12 pp. [ PDF File | Details... ]