Distribution of MTM Kits for Emergency Use From The Community Level To The Country Level
Country Profile
 | Area : 676,578 km sq States & Regions : 14 Districts : 66 Townships : 325 Villages : 64910 Population : 58.38 millions Rural populations : 70% Urban populations : 30% National races : 135 Bamar (i.e. Myanmar) : 89.4% Religion (majority) : Buddhists |
The National Health Policy
“To reinforce the service and research activities of indigenous medicine to international level and to involve in community health care activities“.
Objectives for TM Kits Distribution
- To provide easy access to common traditional medicine drugs for minor illnesses
- To minimize the cost of treatment for minor illnesses
- Myanmar Traditional Medicine (TM) Emergency Kits
Myanmar Traditional Medicine Emergency Kits
Myanmar Traditional Medicine (MTM) Emergency kits contain seven different TM drugs for minor illnesses such as fever, cough and cold, aches and pain, indigestion, diarrhea, together with a thermometer, bandage, cotton wool, methylated spirit etc. Each kit costs about 10,000 Myanmar kyats (@12.5$).
Initial Implementation
- The kits are distributed to the villages where health care facilities are hard to reach.
- For the first phase, 150 villages are selected from one chosen state or region (formerly called division).
- How-to-use-the-emergency-kit training is given by a skilled TM teacher or staff to the Village Health Works (VHW) who is going to take the responsibility of the kits.
Sources of funding
- The Government of the Union of Myanmar
- Private donors
- Nippon Foundation
- Users
Kit contains
- Nwe-cho-kei Hsay (for cough & cold)
- Haleikda-sonna Ngan Hsay (for fever)
- Hnalone-theechay Hsay (for palpitation)
- Setkhu-parla Hsay (for poor vision & backache)
- Madei-myinmo-gon Hsay (for aches & pain)
- Akyaw-lein Hsay(liniment)
- Zartila-wonga Has (for diarrhea & dysentery)
- Thermometer
- Cotton wool
- Bandage
- Methylated Spirit
- Herbal antiseptic solution
- Plaster
- TM Handbook
Selection Criteria for VHW of this project
- 25 to 55 years old villagers irrespective of gender
- Literate person with positive attitude towards TM
- Recommended by local administrative authority
Further Implementations
According to 2007 statistics, Myanmar has 64,910 villages. The project planned to cover all the villages by phase by phase distribution
- Phase I- 50 villages at each State/Division (pilot)
- Phase II- 200 villages at each State and Division
- Phase III- 500 villages at each State and Division
- Phase IV- 7,000 villages/year (2012-2014)
- Phase V – Remaining villages (2015-2017)
Emergency kits distributed by local donors
| No. | Date | District/Region | Amount | Remarks |
| 1 | 12 Aug 07 | Nay Pyi Taw | 150 | |
| 2 | 9 Feb 08 | Magway | 150 | |
| 3 | 17 March 08 | Mon | 150 | |
| 4 | 26 Apr 08 | Ayeyarwaddy | 150 | |
| 5 | 16 Aug 08 | Mandalay | 150 | |
| 6 | 29 Aug 09 | Buddhist Monasteries in Border Areas | 201 | |
| 7 | 30 Nov 09 | Buddhist Monasteries in Border Areas | 300 | |
| 8 | 22 May 10 | Buddhist Monasteries in Border Areas | 328 | |
| Total | 1579 |
Number of kits distributed by Nippon Foundation’s Project
| No. | Date | State/Region | Amount | Remark |
| 1 | 7 Feb 09 | Yangon | 500 | |
| 2 | 27 Jun 09 | Sagaing | 500 | |
| 3 | 26 Sept 09 | Ayeyarwaddy | 500 | |
| 4 | 25 Okt 09 | Bago | 500 | |
| 5 | 26 Jun 10 | Mandalay | 500 | |
| 6 | 7 July 10 | Mon | 500 | |
| 7 | 20 Sept 10 | Magway | 500 | |
| 8 | 4 Okt 10 | Shan | 600 | 100 to border area schools |
| 9 | 19 Okt 10 | Kachin | 500 | |
| Total | 2600 |
TM Kits Distribution during 2011
- 500 TM Kits each are distributed to Karen, Kayah, Chin, Taninthary and Rakhine States during 2011.
- It’s also funded by The Nippon Foundation.
- Up to now, we have already covered all 14 states and regions of the country.
- Next phase is to expand the project with 21,000 TM Kits within 3 years.
Distribution of TM Kits
| No. | Date | Regions/States | Quantity |
| 1 | 12 Aug 2007 | Nay Pyi Taw | 150 |
| 2 | 9 Feb 2008 / 20 Sept 2010 | Magway | 650 |
| 3 | 17 March 2008 / 7 July 2010 | Mon | 650 |
| 4 | 26 Apr 2008 / 19 Sept 2009 | Ayeyarwaddy | 650 |
| 5 | 16 Aug 2008 / 26 Jun 2010 | Mandalay | 650 |
| 6 | 7 Feb 2009 | Yangon | 500 |
| 7 | 27 Jun 2009 | Sagaing | 500 |
| 8 | 29 Okt 2009 | Bago | 500 |
| 9 | 4 Okt 2010 | Shan | 500 |
| 10 | 15 Okt 2010 | Kachin | 500 |
| 11 | 9 Sept 2011 | Kayin | 500 |
| 12 | 29 Sept 2011 | Kayar | 500 |
| 13 | 11 Nov 2011 | Chin | 500 |
| 14 | 30 Nov 2011 | Tanintharyi | 500 |
| 15 | 17 Dec 2011 | Rakhain | 500 |
| Total | 7750 |
Monitoring & Supervision
Regular monitoring, supervision, and continuous support are done by DTM staffs at township level.
The Central Monitoring and Supervision Committee were formed and the committee members made field trips to townships and villages as indicated.
Future Plan
- 7,000 kits will be distributed to remaining villages in Magway Region, Karen, Mon and Shan States during 2012.
- 14,000 will be distributed to the rest during 2013-2014.
- All the rest will be covered by phase IV and V of the project supported by Nippon Foundation.
- Political and financial commitment of the Government and local donors is also obtained.
- 100 primary schools in Rakhine State will receive the kits and necessary trainings during the year 2012 under Nippon Foundations Plan.
- Government organizations like police force, fire brigades and some army units are also planning to get the kits and trainings on how-to-use-it.
- Health assistants, midwives, primary health care staff and school teachers will be trained on how-to-use the TM Kit in collaboration with DOH and MOE. After that the kits will be distributed to them too.
Challenges
- Increasing demand of Resources like man, money, materials for sustainable development of the MTM Kits Project.
- Measures for rapid and effective transportation to supervise, support and replenish the kits regularly and efficiently.
- How to maintain the high and good use of TM Kits in PHC.
- Making it understandable and acceptable by all 135 ethnic groups of Myanmar.
Contact Details
- Director-General Department of Traditional Medicine (DTM) Ministry of Health, Myanmar The Republic of the Union of Myanmar
