By NNN-MNA,
Nay Pyi Taw : Myanmar’s Health Minister, Dr Kyaw Myint, has returned here after attending the 26th South East Asian Regional World health Organization (WHO) Health Ministers Meeting and the 61st Regional Committee meeting held in New Delhi from Sept 8 to 11.
The Health Ministers’ meeting on Sept 8 was attended by delegations from Myanmar, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan, North Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor Leste, the WHO Director-General, and officials from the United Nations and social organizations.
In his address, Dr Kyaw Myint explained Myanmar’s work programmes under International Health Programmes (2005).
He said Myanmar had formed a group of specialists in Obstetric & Gynaecology and paediatricians and efforts were being made for reducing the child mortality while striving for success of anti-tobacco campaign as a national duty.
In that regard, the government laid down the anti-tobacco law on May 4, 2006 and steps are being taken for the people to abide by the law.
In the afternoon of May 8, the minister met WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan, who said she was pleased to hear that Myanmar was able to cope with relief and rehabilitation of cyclone-hit regions as quickly as possible and that WHO wished to continue to provide assistance to the nation.
Dr Kyaw Myint said that Myanmar thanked the WHO for its assistance in relief and rehabilitation and told her that in reconstruction of health establishments, durable buildings were built in accord with the guidance of the Head of State.
On Sept 9, he attended the 26th Health Ministers’ meeting which approved the New Delhi Declaration.
On Sept 10, at the 61st Regional Committee meeting, Dr Kyaw Myint said that hospitals, dispensaries and health care centres were destroyed in the cyclone on May 3 and also left health staff homeless.
The Ministry of Health in co-operation with UN agencies, local and international social organizations was able to carry out relief and rehabilitation tasks in time, he added.
Myanmar thanked ministries of health of the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) and neighbouring countries for their participation in the relief and rehabilitation efforts.
Nepal is to host the 27th Health Ministers’ meeting and the 62nd Regional Committee meeting while Thailand is to host the 28th Health Ministers’ meeting and the 63rd Regional Committee meeting.