Myanmar introduces project on HIV prevention for migrant workers

YANGON, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar has introduced a project on HIV prevention for migrant workers moving into the country's two border areas of Tachilek and Muse for livelihood, the local Biweekly Eleven reported in this week's issue.

The project, to be implemented by Myanmar's Anti-Narcotics Association (MANA) with the cooperation of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), directs at young migrant workers including women coming to work at the border areas or crossing border.

Prevention against the spreading of HIV among them and reproductive health education will be covered by the project as an initial phase, the report said.

HIV prevention work through education is urgently needed to be carried out on such migrant groups whose undertakings are posing a high level of danger to the society, the health ministry said, warning that HIV prevalence rate has attained the most critical point especially in the border areas where socio-economic status is complicated.

The authorities has launched education campaign in eastern Shanstate in 2008, the report said, pointing out that the border town of Tachilek stands a main channel for trafficking women and children to Thailand and its nearby areas during the year.

The education campaign on HIV prevention is being extended to Muse in northern Shan state, project official of the MANA was quoted as saying.

With the assistance of UNFPA, measures are being taken to educate those moving across border for their living especially in their entertainment sector, it said.

Moreover, two Myanmar cities in the northern part -- Lashio and Mandalay were found with most HIV-carrying sex workers, according to the health ministry.

Of the 945 sex workers examined during a census conducted for six areas in the country in 2007, 147 were found infected with HIV with those from Lashio accounting for 22.7 percent, Mandalay 22.6 percent, Myitgyina 17.9 percent, Taunggyi 14.4 percent, Yangon 9.6percent and Kengtung 1.2 percent.

The HIV victims, aged from 30 to 34, took 22.8 percent, while those from 25 to 29 represented 18 percent, 20 to 24 17.3 percent, the figures showed.

More figures revealed that a total of 2,190 people, engaged in the sector, were exposed as carrying HIV in 2008.

However, according to a latest report of the UNAIDS, the number of people infected with HIV in Myanmar dropped to 240,000 in 2007 from 300,000 in 2001, thanks to the government's anti-HIV efforts for years.

HIV/AIDS is among the three major communicable diseases of national concern designated by Myanmar. The other two diseases are tuberculosis and malaria.

Myanmar treats the three diseases as priority with the main objectives of reducing the morbidity and mortality in a bid to become no longer a public problem and meet the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations.