Traditional Medicine Box (TM Box) in Myanmar

Distribution of MTM Kits for Emergency Use From The Community Level To The Country Level

Country Profile

country profileArea : 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.DateDistrict/RegionAmountRemarks
112 Aug 07Nay Pyi Taw150 
29 Feb 08Magway150 
317 March 08Mon150 
426 Apr 08Ayeyarwaddy150 
516 Aug 08Mandalay150 
629 Aug 09Buddhist Monasteries in Border Areas201 
730 Nov 09Buddhist Monasteries in Border Areas300 
822 May 10Buddhist Monasteries in Border Areas328 
Total1579

Number of kits distributed by Nippon Foundation’s Project

No.DateState/RegionAmountRemark
17 Feb 09Yangon500 
227 Jun 09Sagaing500 
326 Sept 09Ayeyarwaddy500 
425 Okt 09Bago500 
526 Jun 10Mandalay500 
67 July 10Mon500 
720 Sept 10Magway500 
84 Okt 10Shan600100 to border area schools
919 Okt 10Kachin500 
Total2600

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.DateRegions/StatesQuantity
112 Aug 2007Nay Pyi Taw150
29 Feb 2008 / 20 Sept 2010Magway650
317 March 2008 / 7 July 2010Mon650
426 Apr 2008 / 19 Sept 2009Ayeyarwaddy650
516 Aug 2008 / 26 Jun 2010Mandalay650
67 Feb 2009Yangon500
727 Jun 2009Sagaing500
829 Okt 2009Bago500
94 Okt 2010Shan500
1015 Okt 2010Kachin500
119 Sept 2011Kayin500
1229 Sept 2011Kayar500
1311 Nov 2011Chin500
1430 Nov 2011Tanintharyi500
1517 Dec 2011Rakhain500
Total7750

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
in this scope
Introduction on ASEAN Traditional Medicine
Proceedings and Specific Reports
Country Scenario
Focal Points and Experts
Policy and Regulations
Institutes and TM Facilities
Publications