The 8th China-Myanmar Workshop on Malaria Elimination and Infectious Disease Control Cooperation Convened in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar

On June 13, 2024, the 8th China-Myanmar Workshop on Malaria Elimination and Infectious Disease Control Cooperation was held in Nay Pyi Taw, the capital of Myanmar. This significant event was co-hosted by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute of Parasitic Disease, Yunnan Disease Control and Prevention Administration, Myanmar's Ministry of Health, Myanmar National Center for Diseases Control and Medical Training Center, and Myanmar's National Malaria Control Program, Department of Public Health, in the new building of the Myanmar National Center for Diseases Control and Medical Training Center, a facility supported by the Chinese government.

 

During the opening ceremony, speeches were delivered by U Aye Tun, Deputy Minister of Health of Myanmar; Mr. Ouyang Daobing, Economic and Commercial Counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar; Dr. Myint Myint Than, Director-General of Public Health at the Ministry of Health of Myanmar; Prof. Li Qun, Deputy Director of the Chinese CDC; and Dr. Song Zhizhong, Director of Yunnan Disease Control and Prevention Administration. Deputy Minister U Aye Tun highlighted the remarkable progress made in malaria control within Myanmar, though challenges persist in remote and underserved regions. He emphasized the invaluable role of Chinese cooperation in addressing these challenges and reaffirmed the workshop as a testament to the enduring strength of ongoing China-Myanmar collaboration in infectious disease control. Counselor Ouyang Daobing commented that the cooperation between China and Myanmar in controlling malaria and other infectious diseases serves as a beneficial complement to China’s infrastructure assistance. He emphasized the interconnection between the health of the Myanmar and Chinese populations, with a promise of more Chinese experts contributing to health initiatives in Myanmar to bolster disease control capabilities. Director-General Myint Myint Than expressed appreciation for the consistent support from Chinese cooperative institutions and hoped for continued aid leveraging their experience, technology, and resources to bolster disease control in Myanmar’s remote regions. Deputy Director Li Qun reviewed the historical cooperation between the two nations in public health, expressing readiness to enhance technical cooperation in areas such as infectious disease control, management of chronic non-communicable diseases, community health promotion, and emergency public health response. Director Song Zhizhong remarked on the longstanding health sector collaboration between Yunnan Province and Myanmar, looking forward to deeper cooperation in joint prevention and control of infectious diseases, surveillance and diagnostics, epidemic prevention post-natural disasters, and emergency responses to public health events.

 

During the workshop, Deputy Director Li Qun and officials from the Myanmar Ministry of Health each detailed the infectious disease control efforts within their respective countries. Director Song Zhizhong of the Yunnan Disease Control and Prevention Administration elaborated on the current state of infectious diseases in Yunnan and shared plans for deeper cooperation. Dr. Nwe Ni Linn, Manager of the Myanmar National Malaria Control Project, outlined the advancements and ongoing challenges in malaria control in Myanmar. Dr. Xia Zhigui, Chief of the Malaria Department at the National Institute of Parasitic Disease, Chinese CDC, presented on the epidemiological status of malaria following its elimination in China and discussed ongoing control strategies.

 

The discussions were robustly facilitated by Chief Scientist Prof. Zhou Xiaonong, focusing on enhancing future collaborative efforts. China-Myanmar border areas facing similar infectious disease challenges, consensus were reached for both nations' public health institutions to further secure resources and prioritize training and technical cooperation, especially for laboratory and vector control professionals working. Participants also highlighted the importance of close cooperation with relevant international organizations and NGOs to assist Myanmar with the effective distribution of medical supplies, thereby managing the transmission of malaria and other infectious diseases more efficiently.

 

The first Workshop on Malaria Elimination in China-Myanmar Border was initiated in 2014 and held alternately in China and Myanmar each year, serves as an important element of the China-Myanmar public health cooperation mechanism. This ongoing event has played an instrumental role in fostering substantive collaboration between the two countries.