H.E. Professor Dr. Kyaw Myint, Minister for Health, Ministry of Health, Myanmar
Leprosy had been a public health problem in Myanmar
for many years. The Government of the Union of
Myanmar launched an Anti-Leprosy Campaign as early
as 1950-51. The WHO-recommended MDT program
was started in 1988. Integration into basic health services
began in 1991 and was completed in 1995.
At present, the leprosy prevalence rate has fallen
dramatically from 39.9 per 10,000 inhabitants in 1988 to
less than 1 per 10,000 population at the end of January
2003, thus achieving the goal of elimination of leprosy.
It has taken us more than a decade to attain this goal.
A significant step was taken in 1991 when the 44th
World Health Assembly passed a resolution for
eliminating leprosy as a public health problem at the
global level by the end of the year 2000.
Myanmar embarked on a strategy applying the
public health approach by fully integrating MDT
services into basic health services. With the strong
support and guidance from the National Health
Committee chaired by General Khin Nyunt, Secretary-1
of the State Peace and Development Council, a
widespread media campaign was launched to raise public
awareness of the early signs and symptoms of leprosy and
the availability and effectiveness of Multi-Drug Therapy.
Misconceptions pertaining to leprosy, especially the
negative image of leprosy, were cleared up. The community
was mobilized through the concerted effort of
multisectoral departments, the NGOs and the active
participation of the community. As a result, people were
no longer afraid to step forward and seek help for any
form of skin lesions, thus making new case detection
easier.
Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon
Availability of the drugs at grass roots level and the
nationwide coverage of Multi-Drug Therapy is an
important factor in achieving high cure rates and fewer
disabilities.
This has been made possible by the Government's
reconsolidation endeavors that have enabled the
government to embark on development programs,
including establishment, expansion and improvement of
health facilities, and ensuring equitable access of the
population to health care services in the under-served
regions, including the border areas.
After attaining the goal of elimination of leprosy, we
cannot be complacent. We have to sustain the elimination
and continue to strengthen our existing health
infrastructure to enable us to provide qualified leprosy
services throughout the country.
H.E. Professor Dr. Kyaw Myint (right) and Yohei Sasakawa
The success story will not be completed without the
participation, contribution of resources and the technical
guidance of WHO, international partners in leprosy
elimination, especially Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, president of
The Nippon Foundation and special ambassador to
GAEL, and also ILEP, DANIDA, Novartis Foundation,
World Bank and local NGOs in the campaign to
eliminate leprosy in our country.
In conclusion, with strong government commitment
and support, as well as the technical competency of
professional staff who implement the program effectively,
the response of the people and the partners and their
wholehearted participation is well recognized and
recorded. Coordinated efforts are needed to further
enhance and sustain the elimination of leprosy at the
national level and to achieve the elimination status at a
local level, and more emphasis has to be given to
rehabilitation and monitoring in the future.