MYANMAR INFORMATION COMMITTEE
YANGON
Information Sheet
No.B-1188 (I) 20th December,1999
(1) WHO has Recognized Health Care Services of Myanmar to be at the Forefront
in South-East Asia
The 28th Meeting of the National Health Committee
took place in the meeting hall of the committee at the
Ministry of Health on 19 December, addressed by
Chairman of the National Health Committee Secretary-1
of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen
Khin Nyunt. Also present at the meeting were member
ministers of the committee, the Yangon Mayor, deputy
ministers, the director of medical services, officials
of the State Peace and Development Council Office,
department heads and guests. In his address, the
Secretary-1 said with respect to health care being
dispensed in Myanmar, it is found that some Western
big nations are citing wrong data and figures sent by
anti-Myanmar organizations, in their reports and
publications with the intention of putting pressure
on Myanmar. It is also found that organizations which
do not want to see the interests of Myanmar, are also
sending such data and figures to some UN agencies.
Ignoring efforts made by the Myanmar Government for
public health care, these organizations are attempting
to mislead international community into thinking that
diseases are widespread in rural areas due to lack of
giving priority to health care in Myanmar, that the
life expectancy of Myanmar people is getting lower as
hospitals are outdated and systematic treatment can
not be given and that the mortality rate of children
is high. Therefore, the Ministry of Health and
ministries dealing with UN agencies need to make
systematic arrangements for feeding correct data and
figures related to health care being provided in
Myanmar, to international community. The Government is
using huge sums of money on building 300-bed hospitals
and 200-bed hospitals and opening new specialist
hospitals in states and divisions, providing medicine
and medical equipment, and assigning physicians at
hospitals. The standard of health care provided in
Upper Myanmar is to be on a par with that in Lower
Myanmar, specialist hospital, the traditional medicine
hospital and the institute of nursing have been built
in Mandalay. Next to the transport sector, the
education and health sectors use the largest amount of
funds in Myanmar. If they are stated with facts and
figures, great improvements will be found. Very
recently, Myanmar hosted the 17th Meeting of Health
Ministers of WHO South-East Asia Region and the main
topics discussed at the meeting were roll back
malaria, stop TB initiative, tobacco free initiative
and the use of traditional medicine in health care
system. It has so happened that these working
programmes have been implemented resolutely in Myanmar
before. WHO has recognized health care services of
Myanmar to be at the forefront in South-East Asia. It
can also be found that not only governmental
organizations but also non-governmental organizations
are actively taking part in providing health care
services, taking preventive measures, giving
treatment and making efforts for reducing the gap of
health standard between rural and urban areas. Since
1996, National Immunization Days activities have been
launched, and it can be found that the entire
national people are participating in the Five Year
NIDs activities as a national movement and in giving
polio vaccine to millions of under five-year-old
children as well as those from remote border areas.
In conclusion, the Secretary-1 urged all to make
efforts for extensively feeding the international
community the news about providing health care
services for national people of Myanmar by laying down
national health plans. Then, officials concerned
reported on progress of work in implementing
resolutions of the 27th National Health Committee
Meeting, arrangements to purchase hospital equipment,
curriculum for the diploma in traditional medicine,
arrangements for compiling facts about health and
Myanmar medicine, reorganization of the school health
supervisory committee, arrangements for carrying out
laboratory tests related to Virus C which can cause
Hepatitis, the drawing of Myanmar Medical Council Law
(Draft), the opening of the efficiency promoting
courses for doctors and resolutions of the meeting of
South-East Asian region of WHO.
(2) The Christmas Entertainment Programmes Held
The Christmas entertainment programme and dinner
organized by Youth Chaplain Father Edwin David of
Youth Apostolate ( Yangon ) were held at Kandawgyi
Palace Hotel, Yangon on 19 December, attended by
Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council
Lt-Gen Tin Oo. Also present on the occasion were
Ministers, Deputy Minister, senior military officers,
the director-general and the deputy director-general
of Religious Affairs Department, Archbishop Gabriel T
Mahn Gaby and Catholic youths, officials of Christian
missionary schools, officials of religious
associations and guests. Archbishop Gabriel T Mahn
Gaby and Youth Chaplain Father Edwin David blessed
the gathering and hosted the dinner to the guests.
(3) Chinese Women Delegation Meets CEC members of MMCWA
Vice-President of All China Women's Federation Mrs.
Shen Shuji and goodwill delegation met Central
Executive Committee members of Myanmar Maternal and
Child Welfare Association at the multi-purpose
building of MMCWA on 20 December. Present on the
occasion were Chairperson of MMCWA, Vice-Chairperson
and CEC members and officials of Chinese Embassy.
Then, Mrs. Shen Shuji presented 10 computers to
Vice-Chairperson for Myanmar Maternal and Child
Welfare Association. Mrs. Shen Shuji explained
matters related to the donation and Chairperson of
MMCWA spoke words of thanks. Vice-Chairperson
explained matters pertaining to the health, education,
social and domestic science and development of
children. The Chinese goodwill delegation visited the
children development school , domestic science
training school and cooking and tailoring courses at
the building of MMCWA. The delegation went to
delivery room of Hline Township, Yangon Division
Maternal and Child Welfare Association. In the
evening, Central Executive Committee of MMCWA hosted
dinner in honour of Vice-President of all China
Women's Federation Mrs. Shen Shuji and the goodwill
delegation at Karaweik Palace in Yangon.
(4) Myanmar Youth Delegation Arrives Back
The 32-member Myanmar youth delegation arrived back
Yangon by air on 18 December after attending the 26th
South East Asia Youth Voyage sponsored by Youth
Administration and Cooperation Agency of Japanese
Prime Minister's Office. They visited Singapore,
Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, the
Philippines and Japan by marine trip from 29 October
to 18 December.
(5) University of Culture Holds Third Convocation
The University of Culture held the third convocation
for 1998-99 academic year at Yangon University
Convocation Hall on 19 December. Present on the
occasion were Rector, Pro-Rector, advisers, heads of
departments, professors, officials, graduates and
their parents. The Rector conferred B.A (Music), B.A
( Drama), B.A ( Painting)and B.A ( Sculpture) degrees
on 106 graduates.
(7) Pocket Myanmar Dictionary Now Available
A Pocket Myanmar Dictionary compiled by member
scholars of Myanmar Language Commission was published
by Department of Myanmar Language Commission of the
Ministry of Education on 18 December. The dictionary
consists of 18,000 head words such as archaic, slang,
simile, colloquial and technical terms and 3,000 loan
words from 24 foreign languages. The dictionary is
available at Department of Myanmar Language Commission
in Yangon and other bookshops at K 300 per copy.
*****************