Apart from Yangon, other regions and states have seen a significant decline in the number of TB transmission, according to the nationwide TB survey (2017-2018).
Dr. Sithu Aung, director of the Public Health Department said: “The findings of 4th nationwide TB survey is especially important for the TB eradication strategic plan (2021-2025), in addition to the reviews on the undertakings and success of TB eradication plan. The country’s TB transmission rate is declining at a rate of 3.5 per cent annually. But the country still remains on the list of 30 countries with high TB burden.”
According to the World TB report 2018, 358 in 100,000 population are TB patients and 51 people die from TB. Under the National TB eradication plan, the Ministry of Health and Sports cured over 135,000 TB patients in 2018, and the success rate was 87 per cent. For medical treatment, the ministry made field trips to remote areas, worksites and prisons.
The government allocated a TB budget of Ks 14 million in 1995-1996 fiscal year. The government increased its budget to Ks 5,568 million in 2016-2017 FY, Ks 4241 million in 2017-2018 FY and over 4,000 million in 2018-2019 FY. In 2017, the Global Fund funded 19 million US dollars and the 3MDG, 1.2 million US dollars.
The Public Health Department will draft the urban TB treatment and control plan in 13 townships in Yangon due to high TB transmission rate. The plan aims to provide health care to vulnerable persons living in the region with no access to health care.
