Thailand Donates Condoms, Medicines to Myanmar

Today in Yangon, Myanmar's capital, Thai health officials delivered AIDS drugs and 1 million condoms, according to a Thai government statement. It quoted Public Health Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan as saying the donation -- valued at $242,000 -- will ease Thailand's financial strain at having to provide treatment for up to 1 million migrant workers from Myanmar.

Unlike its poorer neighbor Myanmar, Thailand has an extensive public-health system. Once seen as an AIDS timebomb, Thailand has made progress against the epidemic thanks to a successful condom-promotion campaign. But AIDS, malaria and drug-resistant TB are found at elevated levels along the 1,500-mile border between the two countries, said Charal Trinvuthipong, director-general of the Communicable Disease Control Center.

Sudarat said: "If we don't cooperate to solve these problems ... apart from making it difficult to control and prevent diseases, it will force Thailand to bear the burden of treating migrant workers for free."

The medicine shipment included GPO-VIR pills, a combination formula of three antiretrovirals, sufficient to treat 200 patients. These are the first part of a three-year supply commitment.

Meetings with Myanmar officials, including Public Health Minister Kyaw Myint, will continue on Thursday.

Back to other news for September 22, 2004

Search the Newsroom archive