Many of Covid-19 dead patients could not have controlled their underlying health conditions such as diabetes and hypertension so people should go to local health departments for necessary medical checkups, said Dr Kyaw Kan Kaung, deputy director general of the Non-communicable Disease Control Unit. 

“A survey shows that 89 percent of hospitalized patients are usually suffering from a certain disease. They are diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, kidney disease, cancer and stroke. In some cases, patients were infected with tuberculosis and then with Covid worsening their health. Some died of liver disease or asthma. If diabetic or hypertension patients can control their diseases, there will not be many deaths even if they are infected with Covid-19. Some patients do not take their medicines regularly while some are taking wrong medicines. With the lack of proper treatment, they might have their kidneys damaged or a weak heart. When they are infected with coronavirus, they might die as they are less immune. That is why many deaths have occurred,” said Dr Kyaw Kan Kaung. 

There are 1,715 rural health centers and 7,313 rural health sub-centers across Myanmar. Diabetics and hypertension tests are available at those centers on Wednesdays. 

A total of 1.7 million people visited those health centers in 2019 and testing showed that 20,600 people were diagnosed with diabetes and 429,000 with hypertension.  

The national strategic plan (2017-2021) for prevention and control non-communicable diseases in Myanmar is being implemented. Another plan for 2021-2022 will also be adopted and implemented. It has started drawing since March this year.