Abstract
Myanmar is a developing country with considerable humanitarian needs, rendering its pursuit of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) an especially high priority. Yet progress to date remains under-examined on key fronts. Particularly within the three health-related MDGs (MDGs 4, 5, and 6), the limited data reported point to patchy levels of achievement. This study was undertaken to provide an overview and assessment of Myanmar’s progress toward the health-related MDGs, along with possible solutions for accelerating health-related development into 2015 and beyond. The review highlights off-track progress in the spheres of maternal and child health (MDGs 4 and 5). It also shows Myanmar’s achievements toward MDG 6 targets – in the areas of HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis. Such achievements are especially notable in that Myanmar has been receiving the lowest level of official development assistance among all of the least developed countries in Asia. However, to make similar progress in MDGs 4 and 5, Myanmar needs increased investment and commitment in health. Toward moving forward with the post-2015 development agenda, Myanmar’s government also needs to take the lead in calling for attention from the World Health Organization and its global development partners to address the stagnation in health-related development progress within the country. In particular, Myanmar’s government should invest greater efforts into health system strengthening to pave the road to universal health coverage.
Highlights
Myanmar is in a phase of historic transition, both in the domestic sphere and in its external relations
This review provides an overview of current trends in Myanmar’s pursuit of the health-related development goals and aims to identify bottlenecks to progress
By examining the issues at the crux of the hold-up in the Myanmar context, we propose possible solutions for accelerating positive health-related achievements into 2015 and beyond
Summary
Myanmar is in a phase of historic transition, both in the domestic sphere and in its external relations. The international community has responded by starting to lift sanctions, and the return of development assistance is likewise expected It is a moment of opportunity for renewed commitment to development and health – areas that have seen slow progress for decades. Myanmar’s progress on the health-related MDGs MDGs 4 & 5: Falling short on maternal and child health Myanmar has shown some progress over the past two decades in reducing child mortality toward MDG 4 targets. Myanmar remains off-track to fulfill the MDG IMR target of 26 or fewer per 1,000 live births by 2015 [5]. Regarding improvements in maternal health toward MDG 5, the maternal mortality rate (MMR) has declined from 520 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 1990 to 200 in 2010.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
