Health

While the recent political reforms in Burma show promise for the country’s future, Burma’s long-neglected healthcare system faces a number of challenges before it can deliver effective and affordable care to the people of Burma. Although Burma’s government increased spending on health care in 2013, the rise brought healthcare spending to 3.9 percent of the country’s total budget. While the…

A Karen Women’s Organisation staff member who has just returned from Nu Poe refugee camp estimated that there are as many as 200 dengue fever cases. Karen News is led to understand that two Nu Poe camp residents died in recent days from complications associated with dengue fever. In a separate incident Karen News has learnt that a 2-year-old girl…

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi attended the 8th anniversary of the memorial lighting prayer service for people who have died from HIV/AIDS held at Inn Yar Lake Hotel last week. Speaking at the memorial service, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi urged people not to discriminate against people with HIV. Speaking at the ceremony, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said. “People…

International health organisations estimate southeastern Burma’s health infrastructure as one of the regions worst with as many as 400,000 people displaced there. Karen villagers deprived of health care for decades are hoping that following a series of meetings between officials from the Karen Department of Health and Welfare and the government’s Health Directorate for Karen State, plans to deliver the…

Dengue fever, a mosquito-borne infection that peaks during Burma’s wet season has struck Karen children early this year. A government health official told Karen News that the number of children in Pa-an, the capital of Karen State, presenting with dengue are high. Dr Win Naing, the Burma government’s health director for Karen State, explained to Karen News that while malaria…

The Burma government and Karen health officials have agreed to join forces to combat malaria in rural communities. Officers from the Karen National Union (KNU) health department and the Dr Win Naing, the Burma government health director for Karen State, agreed to cooperate to fight malaria at a recent meeting in Karen State. The head of the Karen Department of…

The Back Pack Health Worker Team (BPHWT) and Phalon Education Development Unit (PEDU) began a seven-month auxiliary obstetrician-training course on March 31, in Pa-an Township, Karen State. The training opening ceremony was held in Taunggalay village and nearly 40-people attended the opening ceremony, including the BPHWT’s director, Saw Kyaw Win, Karen State Health directorate Dr. Win Naing, village administrators, health…

Karen National Union officials in the Tenasserim Township, Southern Burma are concerned that a coalmine will pollute local waterways posing a health hazard to villagers in the area. Officials of the local branch of the Karen National Union (KNU) are concerned that a Thai company that left its coal mining operation without covering it up risks poisoning water sources used…

Residents four villages in the Dawei area are concerned about the impact coal mining operations will have on their health and on the pollution of local waterways. Local sources said that the coalmining project, a joint venture of the East Star and Mayflower companies, now operating in the Dawei Township region has the potential to pollute waterways and damage health.…

Members of Burma’s main opposition party, the National League for Democracy, visited the Thai border town of Mae Sot to discuss education needs of migrant workers’ children living in the border region. The National League for Democracy sent an education network led by U Phyo Min Thein to visit Mae Tao Clinic that is located in the Thai border town…