Burma (Myanmar)

This section contains an expanded situation analysis, and details about the Burma (Myanmar) Country Flexible Prorgam.
Shooting Gallery. Source:Jimmy Dorabjee/Burnet CHR

Burma (Myanmar) is located in South-eastern Asia and borders China, India and Thailand. Burma (Myanmar) is the world's second largest producer of illicit opium and one of the largest producers of Amphetamine Type Stimulants (ATS).

In Burma (Myanmar), heroin use predominates in the northern states (Kachin and Shan) and in major cities, while opium use is more common in the Eastern and Southern states. As opium becomes less available in Burma (Myanmar), there is a shift towards the injection of heroin and use of ATS.

Reports from the Central Committee on Drug use Control suggest that drug use is a male phenomenon. However, recent situational assessments indicate that there is a growing number of female drug users who are particularly vulnerable due to stigma and discrimination and lack of access to services.

The greatest risk associated with IDU in Burma (Myanmar) is HIV. About 30 per cent of all people living with HIV in Burma (Myanmar) have histories of injecting drugs. It is estimated that about 50-90 per cent of all injecting drug users (IDUs) have HIV.

Furthermore, needle-sharing is the norm. Factors such as poor access to clean needles - possession of needle and syringes is illegal, and poor knowledge about HIV leads many IDUs to share their injecting equipment. High HIV prevalence among IDUs, coupled with high mobility, high imprisonment rates and needle-sharing results in explosive epidemics and requires immediate, targeted interventions.

The National Strategic Plan on HIV/AIDS 2006-2010 places a high priority on prevention among key populations at higher risk of HIV including drug users. An operational plan (2006-2009) with specific targets has been developed to guide the implementation of the national strategy.

Although harm reduction programs are operating in Burma (Myanmar), there is a need to establish new initiatives and strengthen existing ones.

 
Map of Burma (Myanmar). Source: Google Maps