This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS RANGOON 000945 
 
SIPDIS 
 
BANGKOK FOR MATTHEW FRIEDMAN, USAID AND BANGKOK ESTH 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: TBIO SOCI PGOV EAID PHUM PREL BM NGO
SUBJECT: THE WHO JOINS GOB TO FIGHT HIV/AIDS, TUBERCULOSIS, 
AND MALARIA IN BURMA 
 
REF: A. RANGOON 0369 
     ¶B. BANGKOK 5053 
 
¶1.  Summary: Dr. Jack Chow, Assistant Director-General for 
the World Health Organization for HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and 
Malaria (HTM), called on the COM on July 21 to discuss his 
visit to Burma during which he met with the GOB Minister of 
Health and other health officials, announced 92 million in 
new funding for Burma to help combat the spread of HTM, and 
discussed the WHO's "3 by 5" global initiative for combating 
HIV/AIDS.  End Summary. 
 
¶2.  WHO Assistant Director-General Dr. Jack Chow (former U.S. 
AIDS envoy) told the Chief of Mission on July 21 that earlier 
in the week he had met with GOB Minister of Health Dr. Kyaw 
Myint to announce that Burma is to receive a Global Fund 
grant, totaling 92 million over the next 5 years, to combat 
the three target diseases of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and 
malaria.  Chow commented that the GOB has made progress in 
admitting that there is a serious HIV/AIDS problem in Burma 
and that "now, no one denies AIDS exists here."  Chow said 
that Kyaw Myint welcomed international support to combat 
HIV/AIDS, and the Health Minister also communicated how much 
he had valued a 2003 CDC visit, adding that the GOB would 
very much welcome another visit in the future. 
 
¶3.  According to Dr. Chow, the Health Minister said he was 
"stunned and jealous" by the number of INGOs operating in 
Thailand, which he had observed firsthand after attending the 
International AIDS Conference in Bangkok, and indicated that 
he was open to advice and support from such international 
groups.  (Note: in a previous conversation between COM and 
MOFA Political Director General U Thaung Tun, the DG 
expressed concerns that the President's Emergency Plan for 
AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) would result in a "counter productive" 
proliferation of NGOs in Burma, per ref A.  End Note).  Dr. 
Chow opined that the minister's "rhetoric was ahead of his 
(GOB) team," but said that support from the WHO would give 
the minister a "deliverable" for fighting HTM, which would 
help him garner support from his GOB counterparts. 
 
¶4.  Dr. Chow went on to discuss the WHO,s "3 by 5" treatment 
target and said that part of the aid Burma receives will be 
to implement this program, in conjunction with the greater 
HTM program, to combat these three "global diseases of 
poverty."  According to Chow, there are plans in the works to 
hold a signing ceremony in Rangoon to initiate the grant 
agreement, possibly sometime in the next month, and he is 
hopeful that Richard Feacham, Executive Director of The 
Global Fund, will attend.  Dr. Chow also hopes to return to 
Rangoon for the initiation of the program.  The grant to 
Burma will be administered through the UNDP, which will be 
the principle recipient and manager for the program. 
 
¶6.  Comment:  The Minister of Health's positive response to 
the WHO is encouraging in the fight against AIDS, as is the 
substantial funding from the Global Fund.  However, 
infrastructure problems, a lack of proper medical facilities, 
and lingering issues over confidential testing may hamper 
efforts to treat patients.  The WHO,s "3 by 5" program also 
aims to strengthen health systems and technical assistance 
in-country, a necessity in Burma with its meager health 
facilities.  The GOB's growing openness toward discussing 
treatments and prevention for HIV/AIDS is also good sign, 
particularly in a country where, until recently, condoms were 
illegal and government denial made the disease all but 
unmentionable.  End Comment 
Martinez