EU assists Myanmar health sector address rising number of non-communicable diseases
Over the past decades, the number of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer has sharply risen across Myanmar. Two-thirds of deaths are caused by non-communicable diseases – almost twice as much as in 1990. This shift is being driven by Myanmar's ageing population and unhealthy lifestyle choices such as poor diets, low physical activity, and alcohol and tobacco use. Yet, access to effective diagnosis and treatment remains limited, especially in rural areas, and people are often unaware of the risks.
Since 2015, the Ministry of Health and Sports, and public health universities in Myanmar and Thailand worked together with health professionals and international experts to reform Myanmar's health system, modernise healthcare services and improve their response to the rising number of NCDs. A 5-year project to better prevent, diagnose and manage NCDs had been funded by the European Union (EU), World Diabetes Foundation and Age International and implemented by HelpAge International. The project focused on improving quality and accessibility of health services, train health staff and collect reliable data to better inform health policy decision-making. A National Strategic Plan on Prevention and Control of NCDs (2017-2021) is now in place and collaboration across government departments to tackle the issue have improved.
The EU funded project assisted communities to help themselves through health screening teams that go house-to-house assessing everyone aged 40 and over and educating them on NCDs. Through the innovative approach to train inclusive self-help groups with women and men of all ages, health, awareness among the pilot communities could be significantly improved. "Before I joined the training, I didn't know anything about non-communicable diseases. Now I understand, and I can now share that with others in the community," said Daw San San Myint, a 64-year-old member of a screening team.
Seven ISHGs have already carried out over 10,000 screenings, referring 3,140 people to health facilities. In addition over 1,300 health staff from all 330 townships in Myanmar have been trained on inexpensive methods for screening and diagnosing NCDs early, approaches to reduce NCD risk factors, such as obesity and alcohol and tobacco use, and which affordable medicines can be used to treat conditions.
"The better care we are now providing has resulted in increased patient trust,” said Daw Tin Tin San, a health visitor in Thanlyin Township in Yangon.
