Burmese children from a poor village stand next to main road
waiting for tourist donations in Pagan [Photo: AP]
Burma Has Second Highest Child Mortality Rate in Asia
By Min Lwin and Associated Press January 24, 2008
San San Aye, a farmer living some three miles from town, had no idea why her two-year-old son was suffering from chronic diarrhea. She took her child by foot to see the doctor at the government hospital nearest her town, Pale, in Sagaing Division of upper Burma. However, her baby died on the way.
This disturbing story is just one of hundreds of tragedies that happen in Burma every day.
Dr Osamu Kunii, a nutrition expert in Burma with the United Nations Children's Fund, said that between 100,000 to 150,000 children under five years of age die every year in Burma. That’s between 270 and 400 daily—and many are dying from preventable diseases.
Kunii was speaking Wednesday at the launch by UNICEF of its annual report, "The State of the World's Children." The report rated Burma as having the 4th highest child mortality rate in the world, surpassed in Asia only by Afghanistan, which has the third-worst record after Sierra Leone and Angola.
Burma’s unenviable position comes despite the fact that the death rate for young children in Burma had been reduced by 1.6 percent between 1990 and 2006. The under-5 mortality rate is considered a critical indicator for the well-being of children.
According to a child specialist in Monywa Township in Sagaing Division, most infants die from septicemia, diarrhea and tuberculosis. The lack of basic medical supplies and equipment is also a contributing factor for the high death rate, she said.
In 2000, the World Health Organization ranked Burma's overall health care system as the world's second worst after war-ravaged Sierra Leone. Tens of thousands of people in Burma die each year from malaria, tuberculosis, AIDS, dysentery, diarrhea and other illnesses.
The most vulnerable areas are, of course, in the rural and remote parts of Burma.
Speaking to The Irrawaddy on Thursday, Dr Thiha Maung from Mae Tao Clinic in Mae Sot, Thailand, said: “Some of these diseases are preventable, but the public health system does not reach [rural areas in Burma].”
Poor incomes, malnutrition and a shortage of clean drinking water also affect child mortality rates among the rural poor, added the doctor.
Eighty percent of Burmese people live in rural areas and continue to live in poverty, even lacking proper water supplies. Early rains and flooding increase the risk of malaria and dengue fever in rural areas, including Burma’s borders.
Most of Burma's health care is funded by international sources, with the government spending only about 3 percent on health annually, compared with 40 percent on the military, according to a report published this year by researchers from the University of California, Berkeley and Johns Hopkins University.
San San Aye, a farmer living some three miles from town, had no idea why her two-year-old son was suffering from chronic diarrhea. She took her child by foot to see the doctor at the government hospital nearest her town, Pale, in Sagaing Division of upper Burma. However, her baby died on the way.
This disturbing story is just one of hundreds of tragedies that happen in Burma every day.
Dr Osamu Kunii, a nutrition expert in Burma with the United Nations Children's Fund, said that between 100,000 to 150,000 children under five years of age die every year in Burma. That’s between 270 and 400 daily—and many are dying from preventable diseases.
Kunii was speaking Wednesday at the launch by UNICEF of its annual report, "The State of the World's Children." The report rated Burma as having the 4th highest child mortality rate in the world, surpassed in Asia only by Afghanistan, which has the third-worst record after Sierra Leone and Angola.
Burma’s unenviable position comes despite the fact that the death rate for young children in Burma had been reduced by 1.6 percent between 1990 and 2006. The under-5 mortality rate is considered a critical indicator for the well-being of children.
According to a child specialist in Monywa Township in Sagaing Division, most infants die from septicemia, diarrhea and tuberculosis. The lack of basic medical supplies and equipment is also a contributing factor for the high death rate, she said.
In 2000, the World Health Organization ranked Burma's overall health care system as the world's second worst after war-ravaged Sierra Leone. Tens of thousands of people in Burma die each year from malaria, tuberculosis, AIDS, dysentery, diarrhea and other illnesses.
The most vulnerable areas are, of course, in the rural and remote parts of Burma.
Speaking to The Irrawaddy on Thursday, Dr Thiha Maung from Mae Tao Clinic in Mae Sot, Thailand, said: “Some of these diseases are preventable, but the public health system does not reach [rural areas in Burma].”
Poor incomes, malnutrition and a shortage of clean drinking water also affect child mortality rates among the rural poor, added the doctor.
Eighty percent of Burmese people live in rural areas and continue to live in poverty, even lacking proper water supplies. Early rains and flooding increase the risk of malaria and dengue fever in rural areas, including Burma’s borders.
Most of Burma's health care is funded by international sources, with the government spending only about 3 percent on health annually, compared with 40 percent on the military, according to a report published this year by researchers from the University of California, Berkeley and Johns Hopkins University.
China Increasing Diplomatic Role on Burma Question
By Wai Moe January 24, 2008
Visits to Beijing recently by leading Burmese government representatives yielded evidence that China is playing an increasingly diplomatic role in breaking the Burma deadlock, according to informed observers.
After the most recent visit, by Burmese Deputy Foreign Minister Maung Myint, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said the Beijing government wanted a timetable set for UN Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari to return to Burma to continue his mission.
Gambari had planned to return to Burma this month, but the junta put him off and suggested an April visit. Burma will then be celebrating its annual water festival, reason enough for the regime to restrict Gambari’s schedule—as it has on previous visits.
“We hope Mr Gambari and Myanmar [Burma] can, through communications, set a timetable for Mr Gambari’s visit to Myanmar [Burma],” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu, reporting on talks between Maung Myint and Chinese State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan.
Maung Myint represented Burmese Prime Minister Gen Thein Sein at the Beijing talks. A few months ago, Than Shwe also sent his special envoy, Foreign Minister Nyan Win to Beijing to brief Chinese officials on Burma’s internal situation.
Observers regard these visits as evidence that China is playing an increasingly diplomatic role in Burma’s political deadlock. International pressure is also mounting on China to do more to help advance political change in Burma.
One Burma observer, Bangkok journalist Larry Jagan, told The Irrawaddy he thought the Chinese government was very serious about trying to get Gambari back into Burma as soon as possible.
China had supported Gambari’s wish to visit Burma this month, according to Jagan. “But suddenly they want him to come before the end of February.”
Jagan cautioned that China wanted to see Burma taking economic reform rather than political reform.
Some observers are concerned that the regime is planning to wrap up the new constitution before Gambari again visits Burma.
“We heard the junta is trying to finish up its new constitution in March,” said Thakin Chan Tun, a veteran political commentator living in Rangoon.
Gambari remains optimistic about his mission, and told India’s NDTV that his next visit would lead to the release of political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi.
Observers see no indication that the regime will free Suu Kyi soon, however. “I don’t think it is possible,” said Jagan. Formal talks between her and top army leaders weren’t yet taking place, he pointed out.
Gambari is scheduled to visit India and the European Union headquarters in Brussels in coming weeks, and he may also go to China.
At Tuesday’s press conference in Beijing, Jiang Yu said the international community should view objectively the efforts being made by the Burmese government and give constructive help to Burma.
“I don’t think sanctions and applying pressure are helpful to the resolution of the issues,” she said. “Our cooperation is on the basis of equality and mutual benefit and is not related to the interests of any third party.”
China’s influence on the Burmese government was “limited,” Jiang Yu said. “You can’t expect any country, including China, to play that big a role in this county [Burma]. All they can do is make suggestions and offer some help.”
Aung Kyaw Zaw, a Burmese analyst and a former member of Communist Party of Burma, based on the Sino-Burmese border, disagreed.
China was Burma’s principal trading partner and supplier of arms, he pointed out. “If China really wants to influence the regime, it will have real impact on Burma,” he said, suggesting that Beijing should adopt a “carrot and stick” policy on Burma.
Visits to Beijing recently by leading Burmese government representatives yielded evidence that China is playing an increasingly diplomatic role in breaking the Burma deadlock, according to informed observers.
After the most recent visit, by Burmese Deputy Foreign Minister Maung Myint, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said the Beijing government wanted a timetable set for UN Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari to return to Burma to continue his mission.
Gambari had planned to return to Burma this month, but the junta put him off and suggested an April visit. Burma will then be celebrating its annual water festival, reason enough for the regime to restrict Gambari’s schedule—as it has on previous visits.
“We hope Mr Gambari and Myanmar [Burma] can, through communications, set a timetable for Mr Gambari’s visit to Myanmar [Burma],” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu, reporting on talks between Maung Myint and Chinese State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan.
Maung Myint represented Burmese Prime Minister Gen Thein Sein at the Beijing talks. A few months ago, Than Shwe also sent his special envoy, Foreign Minister Nyan Win to Beijing to brief Chinese officials on Burma’s internal situation.
Observers regard these visits as evidence that China is playing an increasingly diplomatic role in Burma’s political deadlock. International pressure is also mounting on China to do more to help advance political change in Burma.
One Burma observer, Bangkok journalist Larry Jagan, told The Irrawaddy he thought the Chinese government was very serious about trying to get Gambari back into Burma as soon as possible.
China had supported Gambari’s wish to visit Burma this month, according to Jagan. “But suddenly they want him to come before the end of February.”
Jagan cautioned that China wanted to see Burma taking economic reform rather than political reform.
Some observers are concerned that the regime is planning to wrap up the new constitution before Gambari again visits Burma.
“We heard the junta is trying to finish up its new constitution in March,” said Thakin Chan Tun, a veteran political commentator living in Rangoon.
Gambari remains optimistic about his mission, and told India’s NDTV that his next visit would lead to the release of political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi.
Observers see no indication that the regime will free Suu Kyi soon, however. “I don’t think it is possible,” said Jagan. Formal talks between her and top army leaders weren’t yet taking place, he pointed out.
Gambari is scheduled to visit India and the European Union headquarters in Brussels in coming weeks, and he may also go to China.
At Tuesday’s press conference in Beijing, Jiang Yu said the international community should view objectively the efforts being made by the Burmese government and give constructive help to Burma.
“I don’t think sanctions and applying pressure are helpful to the resolution of the issues,” she said. “Our cooperation is on the basis of equality and mutual benefit and is not related to the interests of any third party.”
China’s influence on the Burmese government was “limited,” Jiang Yu said. “You can’t expect any country, including China, to play that big a role in this county [Burma]. All they can do is make suggestions and offer some help.”
Aung Kyaw Zaw, a Burmese analyst and a former member of Communist Party of Burma, based on the Sino-Burmese border, disagreed.
China was Burma’s principal trading partner and supplier of arms, he pointed out. “If China really wants to influence the regime, it will have real impact on Burma,” he said, suggesting that Beijing should adopt a “carrot and stick” policy on Burma.
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