Myanmar is considered one of the 22 high burden countries with Tuberculosis (TB), a communicable disease which causes human suffering, impoverishment and unnecessary death. Despite excellent progress in expanding the Directly Observed Treatment Short-course (DOTS) strategy, the global TB incidence rate continues to grow by 1% each year, threatening the health status of affected populations, especially those most vulnerable.

The Myanmar Red Cross Society volunteers play an auxiliary role to the National Tuberculosis Program (NTP) through community education, care/support, defaulter tracing (missed dose tracing) and referral to supportive health facilities.

Components and Activities

Objective
MRCS contributes to reduce TB transmission and its impact in townships with high defaulter rates and as part of the comprehensive Community Based Health Projects (CBHP) activities.
- To increase the awareness at the branch level
- To detect 70% of suspect TB cases
- To obtain 85% of treatment success rate
- To reduce the defaulter rate

Activities
- Advocacy and coordination with NTP and other relevant agencies
- RCV Branch training TB awareness, care and support, tracing.
- IEC development, printing and distribution
- Community awareness campaigns e.g. World TB Day recognition
- Tracing of defaulters with interrupted treatment regimes
- Detection of TB suspects and referred to nearest health facility or GP.
- Distribution of supportive care packages to TB patients.

Target beneficiaries
- Pulmonary TB patients and their families
- General community

Timeline
2005 - ongoing

Project Areas (location)
Yangon Division (2007)
Tharkayta
Mayangone
Hlaing
Dalla
Twantay
Thingangyun

Ayeyarwaddy Division(2008-2009)
Laputta
Ngaputaw
Bogalay
Dedaye
Kyiklatt
Mawlamyinegyun
Maubin
Phyarpon

Magway Division
Natmauk
Pwint Phyu

Shan (East) State
Keng Tung

Mandalay Division
Mogok
Singu
Thazi
Nyaung Oo

Partners
Funding – IFRC (ARC & Finnish RC), DRC

Collaborative – Department of Health, National Tuberculosis Program, WHO

Trained RCVs
290 RCVs