Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05RANGOON1275
2005-11-09 10:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Rangoon
Cable title:  

BURMA: CHARGE MEETS THE MINISTER OF HEALTH

Tags:  EAID EAGR PGOV SOCI TBIO BM 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 RANGOON 001275 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR EAP/MLS; PACOM FOR FPA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/2015
TAGS: EAID EAGR PGOV SOCI TBIO BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: CHARGE MEETS THE MINISTER OF HEALTH

REF: A. RANGOON 1265

B. RANGOON 1257 AND PREVIOUS

C. RANGOON 1182 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: Poloff Dean Tidwell for Reasons 1.4 (b, d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 RANGOON 001275

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR EAP/MLS; PACOM FOR FPA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/2015
TAGS: EAID EAGR PGOV SOCI TBIO BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: CHARGE MEETS THE MINISTER OF HEALTH

REF: A. RANGOON 1265

B. RANGOON 1257 AND PREVIOUS

C. RANGOON 1182 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: Poloff Dean Tidwell for Reasons 1.4 (b, d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: The Charge made a courtesy call November 8 on
Dr. Kyaw Myint, Minister of Health. The minister assured the
Charge of the GOB's commitment to transparency on avian
influenza outbreaks in Burma and his ministry has several
initiatives to mitigate the spread of AI. The minister
described improved access to project sites by international
organizations and international. He said "skeleton staff"
would remain in Rangoon to work with the international
community now that the MOH has already begun moving to the
new capital Pyinmana. End Summary.

FIGHTING AI WITH MEAGER RESOURCES


2. (C) The Charge, joined by poloff, called on the Minister
of Health, Dr. Kyaw Myint, on November 8. The directors
general of the five divisions within the MOH silently sat in.
Avian Influenza figured prominently during the 45-minute
discussion. The minister repeatedly expressed his strong
commitment to transparency in reporting on suspected AI
outbreaks in Burma. He also committed to preventing AI from
spreading from Burma to the rest of the world,
notwithstanding "meager resources." He recounted a recent
disease outbreak in Kyaikto, Mon State, confirmed as a non-AI
virus (ref B). He also mentioned two outbreaks of disease
among chickens that were determined to be Newcastle disease,
and recent deaths among ducks brought to Rangoon from Bago
Division that had been investigated by the Livestock and
Fisheries Ministry. In the latter case, the ducks were
quarantined, not destroyed, because they did not have the H5
virus.


3. (C) When the Charge's inquired about Burma's assistance
needs for AI, the minister replied, "Tell me what your
restrictions will allow you to do and I will tell you how you
can help." He admitted that "we don't have much Tamiflu"
stockpiled and said more would be welcome. The Charge
responded that the USG also has very limited stocks. The

minister said he was talking to the Chinese about
supplementing the limited Tamiflu supplies he has received
from WHO. The minister said that AI laboratory test kits are
urgently needed and would welcome such kits from the United
States. The Charge promised to relay the request to
Washington.


4. (C) The minister described several initiatives his
ministry had initiated to track possible outbreaks of AI in
Burma, including:

-- Establishing "sentinel survey sites" around the country to
monitor areas vulnerable to outbreaks.

-- Establishing "SWAT teams" to respond quickly to suspected
outbreaks.

-- Preparing AI awareness messages to be aired on prime time
TV.

-- Training MOH personnel through WHO-sponsored workshops and
conferences on AI in Geneva and Australia.


5. (C) The Charge mentioned the Embassy had discovered that
personnel at a wetland bird sanctuary had received no
guidance from the GOB regarding possible AI outbreaks among
migrating birds (ref C). The minister said he had not been
aware of this before and would convey our concerns to the
Forestry Minister, which has responsibility for the park. At
the end of the meeting, without prompting, he repeated his
intention to work with the Forestry Ministry on AI in
migratory birds.

GLOBAL FUND SAFEGUARDS A STRAITJACKET?


6. (C) The minister lamented the termination of the Global
Fund for HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis (GF). He said
that so much of the funds went into supporting safeguards
that there was little left for fighting the diseases. He
recalled how "time consuming" it was to try to comply with
all the safeguards. The Charge related problems experienced
in other countries where corrupt officials pocketed large
amounts of donor assistance. The minister said he understood
that the GF faced similar problems with government corruption
in Uganda. He pointed out, however, that in Burma GF funds
went to UNDP, not to the GOB, and it was still terminated.
He concluded that he had a "hands off" policy regarding cash
assistance and had "nothing more to say" about the GF.
MALARIA IS "NORMAL" AND TB "NOT BAD"

7. (C) When the Charge asked about the status of malaria and
tuberculosis in Burma, the minister responded that malaria
follows a "normal pattern." (Note: UN sources recently
reported that malaria is one of the top three killers of
children in Burma and that Burma accounts for 50% of malaria
mortality in WHO's Southeast Asia Region, which includes
India. A UN source also said that no more than 40% of all
malaria cases in Burma are reported to health authorities.
End Note.) The minister said that the status of TB in Burma
is "not bad." He noted his own expertise as a thoracic
surgeon and his years of treating TB cases in Burma,
accordingly he placed high priority on reducing TB
infections.

NOW YOU CAN GET THERE FROM HERE


8. (C) To the Charge's inquiry about IOs and INGOs needing
better access to project sites around the country, the
minister responded that with the exception of Wa-controlled
territory, the GOB has agreed to grant permits for
international staff to stay at project sites for up to three
months at a time. After returning to Rangoon for a week or
two, they can return to the field for another three-month
stint. He said the INGOs were satisfied with this
arrangement. (Note: This agrees with what INGOs have
recently told us. End Note.)

NORTHWARD HO!


9. (C) The minister confirmed that the MOH would be moving to
the newly announced administrative capital Pyinmana (ref A).
He just returned from an inspection visit to Pyinmana on
November 7 and expects that the MOH will complete the move by
the end of January 2006. The MOH will maintain a "skeleton
staff" in Rangoon to respond to inquiries within a few hours,
but "not more than a day." To the Charge's question about
whether there would be transportation and communication links
with Pyinmana, the minister replied, "They must have plans."
He reassured us that it is only a five-hour drive from
Rangoon. On whether the GOB will provide offices and homes
for civil servants, he replied, "I think so." He joked and
compared the move to American settlers traveling west in
covered wagons. As we departed the MOH, we observed a
Burmese "covered wagon," a Chinese-built military truck with
a canvas roof, loading ministry furniture for the trip north.


COMMENT: THIS IS SOMEONE WE CAN WORK WITH


10. (C) Dr. Kyaw Myint has a good reputation among the INGOs
as being genuinely interested in facilitating their programs
and not interfering in them. He claimed that he could have
had a lucrative medical practice in Denver, where he did his
post-graduate studies, but "my people need me." He is one of
a very few civilians remaining in the cabinet. That he is
Senior General Than Shwe's physician no doubt explains why.
He is the first to admit that he has to answer to his own
bosses, but he tries. We have many restrictions on doing
business with the GOB. To the degree that we can reward good
behavior, this ministry and this minister appear to be the
only officials committed to doing something for the people of
Burma. Recognizing the worldwide threat posed by AI, we
should be able to supply some laboratory test kits to assist
in stopping the spread of this disease far from our shores.
End Comment.
VILLAROSA