MSF ready to return to Rakhine
Medecins Sans Frontieres Holland (MSF), or Doctors without Borders, said yesterday that it is ready to resume operations in Rakhine State any time soon, amid threats of protests from locals.
In a statement released from its head office in the Netherlands, the organisation said, "Together with the Ministry of Health, Rakhine State Department of Health and State Government, MSF-H is committed to continuing to engage in an open and transparent dialogue regarding our future activities in Rakhine and stands ready to resume operations in the state at any time."
This followed the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Myanmar government on September 8. While the MoU also covers Rakhine State, MSF-H has only just begun consultations with all relevant stakeholders in Rakhine, including community representatives, regarding the resumption of its activities, which were suspended in February 2014, it said.
Dissatisfied with the MoU, some local residents in Rakhine threaten to stage protests against the return. MSF was ordered to suspend its operations in Rakhine State on February 26, following rising anger towards the NGO by ethnic Rakhine residents who said it was biased in its delivery of services towards the state’s Muslim minority.
In its statement, MSF-Holland said that the MoU allows MSF-H, the Ministry of Health, the National AIDS Programme, the National TB Programme and associated technical departments to work closer together to ensure best care for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, drug-resistant TB and malaria patients in Myanmar, as well as provide primary healthcare and disease education, diagnosis and treatment.
In Kachin and Shan states, MSF-H will focus on the treatment of HIV/AIDS and co-infected TB patients in 19 townships. Currently in Northern Shan State, MSF-H is also providing assistance to populations displaced by recent conflict. In Yangon Region, the agreement will enable MSF-H to continue treatment of HIV/AIDS and co-infected TB patients in 16 townships in close collaboration with the ministry, and national AIDs and TB programmes.
In total, MSF-H currently provides treatment and care for more than 30,000 HIV/AIDS and 3,000 TB patients in Myanmar, as well as health education to communities, laboratory diagnosis and treatment of diseases. It also facilitates patient referrals to the ministry’s facilities.
The organisation has been in Myanmar since 1992.
