ADB to link for expanding HIV/AIDS treatment in Myanmar

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide a strategic link between Myanmar government and non- governmental organizations (NGO) in expanding HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention services, using funds from the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction, state media reported Wednesday. The ADB move is to strengthen provision of healthcare in remote, vulnerable and hardly accessible population, said the New Light of Myanmar. Using 10 million U.S. dollars' grant from the Japanese fund, ADB will establish innovative partnership between government and NGOs to deliver better services to 739 villages in five townships in Mon, Kayin and Shan ethnic states. It is projected that by 2017, communities will see strengthened health system that can plan for and manage response to HIV/AIDS and STI with the number of trained health service providers increasing by 30 percent, the number of patient consultation increasing by 80 percent and behavior change campaign to help reduce exposure to HIV, STI, TB and malaria. Estimation shows that 240,000 people in Myanmar are living with HIV. A 2012 survey by the National AIDS Program shows infection concentrated among injection drug users, female sex workers and men who have sex with men. Of those infected, only 40,000 adults and children receive anti-retroviral treatment (ART) presenting a significant treatment gap, the report added.