A technical assistance project in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) is helping Myanmar eliminate malaria by 2030.

TA 8959-REG: Malaria and Communicable Diseases Control in the Greater Mekong Subregion project is supported by a grant from the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Regional Malaria and Other Communicable Disease Threats Trust Fund. ADB has been working closely with governments, as well as with development partners and global technical agencies, to fight artemisinin-resistant malaria in GMS countries, including Myanmar.

In Myanmar, the technical assistance was designed to develop (i) a model to strengthen capacities for laboratory diagnostics and surveillance for malaria and communicable disease at local and national levels, and (ii) a model to strengthen the health service delivery system for primarily internal migrant and mobile populations with the help of the private sector.

The project has three distinct but interrelated outputs

• Output 1:  Improve malaria surveillance and diagnostic systems in Myanmar.
• Output 2: Address the specific needs of migrant and mobile populations for malaria prevention and treatment.
• Output 3:  Strengthen coordination of malaria and communicable disease control among GMS countries.

ADB and the Myanmar Ministry of Health and Sports (MoHS) engaged the University Research Co. LLC in Myanmar (URC-Myanmar) to work with the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) and the National Health Laboratory to strengthen data management systems for malaria surveillance, including the upgrading of analytical tools for decision-making, scale-up and maintenance of data management systems, cooperation with volunteer malaria workers on routine reporting, and real-time reporting. Key activities also included the upgrading of laboratory diagnostic quality assurance.

The Union Minister of the MoHS approved the standard operating procedures and manual on Microscopy and Laboratory Quality Assurance in April 2017. MoHS-NMCP approved the manual in September 2017 for nationwide use. These materials have been distributed nationwide and used for training MoHS health staff in project areas.

The project also developed malaria microscopy algorithm and malaria reference slide posters for use by lab technicians nationwide.

The forms and guidelines are available for download on this website and on the Eliminate Malaria website.