AIDS in Shan State a crisis

Drugs

AIDS in Shan State a crisis

A presenter at a two-day workshop on HIV/AIDS in Shan State held in Chiangmai has tagged the problem in Burma's largest state as a crisis, said women participants at the 13-14 November meeting.

The Update on HIV in Burma in October 2004 by Jamie Uhrig, a researcher who had worked in Burma, called the rising prevalence of the epidemic as "The Crisis in Shan State."

According to his paper, over 80% of injecting drug users (IDUs) in Lashio, most of them who inject heroin, were found HIV infected and many of them have died.

Dr Chris Beyrer, American authority on HIV/AIDS who had conducted "Sentinel Surveillance" in September-October 1999 in Burma, also estimated the 2004 HIV prevalence in Shan State as follows:

In addition, the 1999 survey came across high HIV prevalence rates among ante-natal clinic (ANC) pregnant women:

Uhrig's paper noted that the military government has begun small-scale activities in Shan State such as condom promotion, support for outreach, needle and syringe programs, life skills training, minimum package of care and prevention of HIV infection in mothers and young children, with a $ 50 million total committed funding.

However, crackdowns on sex work and human trafficking have disrupted HIV prevention programs and led to greater vulnerability of sex workers to HIV.

1.31% of all adults in Burma are estimated to be living with HIV in Burma, according to the National AIDS Program's official estimate, revised in September.

Far Eastern Economic Review, 15 July, reported that 5% of the 7 million people living with HIV/AIDS in Asia-Pacific Region are in Burma, while 61% are in India, 13% in China, 11% in Thailand and 10% in other countries.

"The Burmese (generals) need not worry about destroying the Shans," a woman social worker told S.H.A.N. "AIDS is already doing the job for them."