Rangoon (Mizzima) - Health Minister Dr. Pe Thet Khin took part in a World Health Organisation (WHO) conference on the prevention of malaria on Monday, calling for better government policing of low quality medicines and more public education.
Last year, 974 people in Burma died of malaria, according to government date.
The conference, held in Naypyitaw, was part of the WHO Mekong Malaria Programme, which is focused on eliminating one of the three most dangerous diseases in the world.
“In Burma, malaria must be prevented and eradicated as a first priority. It has occurred in 284 townships across Burma”, a state-run newspaper quoted the minister as saying.
In 2009, about 500,000 people were infected with malaria and 974 died , according to figures compiled by the Central Health Department.
The health minister said a serious problem is the importing and sale of low quality and fake medicines for malaria and that
government agencies must work harder to prevent fake medicines and to educate the public.
The three most serious diseases in Burma were AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, the minister said.
