Skip to main content

Thailand, Myanmar cooperate to control cross-border diseases

Countries
Thailand
+ 1 more
Sources
Govt. Thailand
Publication date
Origin
View original

BANGKOK, 15 August 2013 (NNT) - Dr. Pradit Sintavanarong, Minister of Public Health, is pushing forward a policy to improve healthcare for people living along the Thai-Myanmar border as he acknowledges that this group is at higher risk of being exposed to contagious diseases than others.

The disease prevention policy will be especially targeted to residents along the Thai-Myanmar border. As part of the effort, a meeting entitled “Thailand–Myanmar Collaborative Workshop on Disease Surveillance Prevention and Control at the Border Areas” has been held at Montien Hotel in Bangkok.

The purpose of the workshop was to exchange information and experience on disease control along the border of the two countries, as well as to monitor the progress of yearly cooperation plans. The meeting was attended by 70 academics, officers and executive leaders from related sectors, and the World Health Organization’s representatives to both Thailand and Myanmar.

Cooperation for the prevention of contagious diseases between Thailand and Myanmar has been developed since the year 2000 with the minutes of discussion containing details that can be used to enhance disease prevention efforts along the border, especially against AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.

The public health cooperation plan for border areas has also been established between Thailand and Myanmar with the support from the World Health Organization, UNICEF and UNAIDS. At present, the cooperation plan is implemented both at the national and local levels, with focuses on preparations for and responses to an epidemic situation.