US embassy cable - 05RANGOON1275

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 RANGOON 001275 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MLS; PACOM FOR FPA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/2015 
TAGS: EAID, EAGR, PGOV, SOCI, TBIO, BM, Avian Influenza 
SUBJECT: BURMA: CHARGE MEETS THE MINISTER OF HEALTH 
 
REF: A. RANGOON 1265 
     B. RANGOON 1257 AND PREVIOUS 
     C. RANGOON 1182 AND PREVIOUS 
 
Classified By: Poloff Dean Tidwell for Reasons 1.4 (b, d) 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY: The Charge made a courtesy call November 8 on 
Dr. Kyaw Myint, Minister of Health.  The minister assured the 
Charge of the GOB's commitment to transparency on avian 
influenza outbreaks in Burma and his ministry has several 
initiatives to mitigate the spread of AI.  The minister 
described improved access to project sites by international 
organizations and international.  He said "skeleton staff" 
would remain in Rangoon to work with the international 
community now that the MOH has already begun moving to the 
new capital Pyinmana.  End Summary. 
 
FIGHTING AI WITH MEAGER RESOURCES 
 
2. (C) The Charge, joined by poloff, called on the Minister 
of Health, Dr. Kyaw Myint, on November 8.  The directors 
general of the five divisions within the MOH silently sat in. 
 Avian Influenza figured prominently during the 45-minute 
discussion.  The minister repeatedly expressed his strong 
commitment to transparency in reporting on suspected AI 
outbreaks in Burma.  He also committed to preventing AI from 
spreading from Burma to the rest of the world, 
notwithstanding "meager resources."  He recounted a recent 
disease outbreak in Kyaikto, Mon State, confirmed as a non-AI 
virus (ref B).  He also mentioned two outbreaks of disease 
among chickens that were determined to be Newcastle disease, 
and recent deaths among ducks brought to Rangoon from Bago 
Division that had been investigated by the Livestock and 
Fisheries Ministry.  In the latter case, the ducks were 
quarantined, not destroyed, because they did not have the H5 
virus. 
 
3. (C) When the Charge's inquired about Burma's assistance 
needs for AI, the minister replied, "Tell me what your 
restrictions will allow you to do and I will tell you how you 
can help."  He admitted that "we don't have much Tamiflu" 
stockpiled and said more would be welcome.  The Charge 
responded that the USG also has very limited stocks.  The 
minister said he was talking to the Chinese about 
supplementing the limited Tamiflu supplies he has received 
from WHO.  The minister said that AI laboratory test kits are 
urgently needed and would welcome such kits from the United 
States.  The Charge promised to relay the request to 
Washington. 
 
4. (C) The minister described several initiatives his 
ministry had initiated to track possible outbreaks of AI in 
Burma, including: 
 
-- Establishing "sentinel survey sites" around the country to 
monitor areas vulnerable to outbreaks. 
 
-- Establishing "SWAT teams" to respond quickly to suspected 
outbreaks. 
 
-- Preparing AI awareness messages to be aired on prime time 
TV. 
 
-- Training MOH personnel through WHO-sponsored workshops and 
conferences on AI in Geneva and Australia. 
 
5. (C) The Charge mentioned the Embassy had discovered that 
personnel at a wetland bird sanctuary had received no 
guidance from the GOB regarding possible AI outbreaks among 
migrating birds (ref C).  The minister said he had not been 
aware of this before and would convey our concerns to the 
Forestry Minister, which has responsibility for the park.  At 
the end of the meeting, without prompting, he repeated his 
intention to work with the Forestry Ministry on AI in 
migratory birds. 
 
GLOBAL FUND SAFEGUARDS A STRAITJACKET? 
 
6. (C) The minister lamented the termination of the Global 
Fund for HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis (GF).  He said 
that so much of the funds went into supporting safeguards 
that there was little left for fighting the diseases.  He 
recalled how "time consuming" it was to try to comply with 
all the safeguards.  The Charge related problems experienced 
in other countries where corrupt officials pocketed large 
amounts of donor assistance.  The minister said he understood 
that the GF faced similar problems with government corruption 
in Uganda.  He pointed out, however, that in Burma GF funds 
went to UNDP, not to the GOB, and it was still terminated. 
He concluded that he had a "hands off" policy regarding cash 
assistance and had "nothing more to say" about the GF. 
MALARIA IS "NORMAL" AND TB "NOT BAD" 
7. (C) When the Charge asked about the status of malaria and 
tuberculosis in Burma, the minister responded that malaria 
follows a "normal pattern."  (Note: UN sources recently 
reported that malaria is one of the top three killers of 
children in Burma and that Burma accounts for 50% of malaria 
mortality in WHO's Southeast Asia Region, which includes 
India.  A UN source also said that no more than 40% of all 
malaria cases in Burma are reported to health authorities. 
End Note.)  The minister said that the status of TB in Burma 
is "not bad."  He noted his own expertise as a thoracic 
surgeon and his years of treating TB cases in Burma, 
accordingly he placed high priority on reducing TB 
infections. 
 
NOW YOU CAN GET THERE FROM HERE 
 
8. (C) To the Charge's inquiry about IOs and INGOs needing 
better access to project sites around the country, the 
minister responded that with the exception of Wa-controlled 
territory, the GOB has agreed to grant permits for 
international staff to stay at project sites for up to three 
months at a time.  After returning to Rangoon for a week or 
two, they can return to the field for another three-month 
stint.  He said the INGOs were satisfied with this 
arrangement.  (Note: This agrees with what INGOs have 
recently told us.  End Note.) 
 
NORTHWARD HO! 
 
9. (C) The minister confirmed that the MOH would be moving to 
the newly announced administrative capital Pyinmana (ref A). 
He just returned from an inspection visit to Pyinmana on 
November 7 and expects that the MOH will complete the move by 
the end of January 2006.  The MOH will maintain a "skeleton 
staff" in Rangoon to respond to inquiries within a few hours, 
but "not more than a day."  To the Charge's question about 
whether there would be transportation and communication links 
with Pyinmana, the minister replied, "They must have plans." 
He reassured us that it is only a five-hour drive from 
Rangoon.  On whether the GOB will provide offices and homes 
for civil servants, he replied, "I think so."  He joked and 
compared the move to American settlers traveling west in 
covered wagons.  As we departed the MOH, we observed a 
Burmese "covered wagon," a Chinese-built military truck with 
a canvas roof, loading ministry furniture for the trip north. 
 
 
COMMENT: THIS IS SOMEONE WE CAN WORK WITH 
 
10. (C) Dr. Kyaw Myint has a good reputation among the INGOs 
as being genuinely interested in facilitating their programs 
and not interfering in them.  He claimed that he could have 
had a lucrative medical practice in Denver, where he did his 
post-graduate studies, but "my people need me."  He is one of 
a very few civilians remaining in the cabinet.  That he is 
Senior General Than Shwe's physician no doubt explains why. 
He is the first to admit that he has to answer to his own 
bosses, but he tries.  We have many restrictions on doing 
business with the GOB.  To the degree that we can reward good 
behavior, this ministry and this minister appear to be the 
only officials committed to doing something for the people of 
Burma.  Recognizing the worldwide threat posed by AI, we 
should be able to supply some laboratory test kits to assist 
in stopping the spread of this disease far from our shores. 
End Comment. 
VILLAROSA