Two die of HIV/ Aids every hour in Myanmar

Published on Sunday, 09 December 2012 04:55

Two people died from HIV/ Aids every hour in Myanmar, said Khine Mar Swe from Myanmar Positive Group (National PLHIV Network) on December 1.

She made the revelation on World Aids Day 2012, which was organised by seven CBOs, and said their NGO will take measures to reduce the number to zero.

Myanmar Positive Group was established in 2006, whose former name was GIPA Initiative Group.

The organisation is supported by International HIV/ Aids Alliance and UNDP.

Its objective is to promote the role of people living with HIV/ Aids and to give them a better place in society.

According to the data and researches of MPG, 30 per cent of the people living with HIV/ Aids cannot take part in community activities whereas 15 per cent are kept out of their family. About 41 per cent are denied employment.

This kind of unfair treatment makes people living with HIV/ Aids feel guilty and prone to suicide.

Discrimination against Aids patients is the main barrier to the prevention and treatment of HIV/ Aids. The most vulnerable are intravenous drug users and sex workers.

More than 20 adults in Myanmar are infected by the disease daily, according to the report.

Myanmar has one of the highest adult HIV prevalence rate in Asia, followed by Thailand and Cambodia.