Remarks as prepared for Ms. Aler Grubbs, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director in Myanmar
for the virtual launch of the Local Action Toward TB-Free Myanmar Activity
Thursday, October 15, 2020 9:30 am
Today the U.S. Agency for International Development, known as USAID, is launching a new project called Local Action Toward TB Free Myanmar. Our partner to implement this project is the Myanmar civil society organization, Pyi Gyi Khin. The project is for three years. As Dr. Thandar Lwin has said, this project builds on our previous collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Sports to achieve the objectives of Myanmar’s National TB Program.
At USAID, one of our goals is to build partnerships with Myanmar organizations, to empower communities to generate local solutions to meet the needs of your people. This project will meet the needs of those people living with TB.
Pyi Gyi Khin will collaborate with a diverse group of civil society organizations, government institutions, the private sector, faith-based organizations, and other partners to work together to try to end TB.
Pyi Gyi Khin and its partners worked with the National TB Program and USAID to design a program that will reach the people who are most in need and under-served.
The project, Local Action Toward TB Free Myanmar, will empower people affected by TB to take a more active role in advocating for their wellbeing. The project will help people contribute to the design and delivery of TB services and support that meets the needs of people in their own communities.
The Local Action Toward TB Free Myanmar is part of USAID’s worldwide “TB Accelerator” to prevent and treat TB in 23 high-burden countries. Our worldwide “TB Accelerator” is supporting different countries’ efforts to eliminate TB by 2035.
Thank you to the Ministry of Health and Sports and the people of Myanmar for your strong commitment to eliminate TB. Myanmar serves as an example to this region of what can be accomplished with strong partnership and effort, and we look forward to continuing to partner with you to make this ambitious goal a reality.
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