Burma

Burma/Myanmar is one of the world’s least developed countries. It has a long history of conflicts since the Second World War, most of which have ended during the past decade in ceasefire agreements.

Reconstruction of the infrastructure has only just begun and there has never been an integrated basic health system, so health is very poor in some regions. For example:

• In Special Region 4 of Shan State where we are working, two thirds of the villages do not have toilets
• Approximately 40% of households drink water taken directly from streams and rivers
• Just three hospitals and eleven clinics serve the entire region
• There is only one doctor to every 5,000 people
• 96% of deliveries are attended by unskilled birth attendants or family members
• Unsafe practices include cutting the umbilical cord with unsterilised bamboo chips

Health Poverty Action works in several areas of Burma to:

Improve the health of poor minority communities
In Special Region 4. We are reducing malaria and improving infant and maternal health.

Strengthen health systems
In Special Region 2 of Shan State (Wa), we are improving the primary health care system, focusing on services for women and children under 2 years old.

Improve access to basic health care services
In Special Region 2 of Kachin, we are improving the health status of indigenous and displaced people, particularly women and children under 5 years old.

Address HIV/AIDS amongst vulnerable border communities
Along the border between Special Region 2 of Kachin and China, we are helping vulnerable groups such as drug users and sex workers to avoid HIV through a needle exchange programme, counselling and distributing condoms.