World Aids Day Ceremony: “End Inequalities. End Aids. End Pandemics”

Union Minister for Health Dr. Thet Khaing Win attended the 2021 World AIDS Day ceremony on Wednesday in Nay Pyi Taw.

At the ceremony, the Union minister said activities to eradicate the HIV/AIDS are being implemented in accordance with the National Strategic Plan for HIV/AIDS (2021-2025). In 2021, 362 ART clinics were opened in 273 townships to provide treatment for HIV/ AIDS patients, making the ART medical services more accessible.

Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) has been extended to 330 townships nationwide this year. Preventive care and treatment have been stepped up since 2021 with increased funding from the government, he said. The government has been increasing the allocation of funds from the 2016-2017 financial year to make sure that there is no shortage of medicines and related medical supplies for ART medical services. In the 2020-2021 FY, up to 15 million USD was allocated and more are planned to be allocated in the coming years.

Out of an estimated 240,000 people living with HIV, more than 190,000) have been treated as of September 2021. New HIV prevention strategies such as Pre Exposure Prophylaxis and pre-disease vaccination are being carried out in Yangon Region. The incidence of new HIV infections in Myanmar peaked at 26,569 in 2000 and dropped to 9,081 in 2020.

The Union minister urged those who are affected with HIV or who work in the HIV prevention and treatment activities to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. He also said he believed that with the cooperation of the Ministry of Health, the people and partner organizations, a HIV-free society would emerge by 2030.

The World AIDS Day has been celebrated in the first week of December annually across the world since 1988. The theme of this year’s World AIDS Day is “End Inequalities. End AIDS. End Pandemics” to reaccelerate the prevention and treatment of HIV in the world, in addition to the COVID-19 prevention and response efforts. There are about 241,662 people living with HIV in Myanmar, with an estimated HIV prevalence rate of 0.57%.