Myanmar To Take Nationwide Census on TB Patients, Health Ministry Says
Myanmar plans to take a nationwide census on the number of people with tuberculosis beginning this month, officials from the Ministry of Health said Sunday, Xinhuanet reports. According to Xinhuanet, Myanmar is one of the 22 countries with the highest TB burdens worldwide.
According to the health ministry, about 130,000 TB patients were treated successfully in 2008. The country reported an 87% TB case detection rate and an 85% treatment success rate in 2008, the ministry said. The country spent about $440,000 in fiscal year 2007-2008 to treat TB patients. According to Xinhuanet, Myanmar is increasing efforts to fight HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria to meet the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. There are about 100,000 new TB cases annually in the country, Xinhuanet reports (Xinhuanet, 4/5).