Red Cross Red Crescent - News on Myammar

Life for HIV/Aids sufferers is hard enough but for those totally abandoned by their families because of their illness, it becomes even more grim. However, for those who live in Lashio, close to Myanmar's border with China, there is a ray of hope.

Set up in 1999, the "Chronic Disease Support Group" is a team of Red Cross volunteers who had received education and training in home-based care for the most vulnerable members of society. Now their particular focus is on HIV/Aids infected people who have been totally rejected by their relatives.

Counselling plays a major role in their work. For both victim and family. Recently, one man had been found outside a railway station without anyone to look after him or anywhere to stay. The group found some temporary accomodation for him and in the interim, gave regular counselling to his family. With continued support from the Red Cross volunteers, the family took the man back.

Home care and safe sex education for sufferers and relatives are the other key services of the group. But it has also taken on other responsibilities including organising burials and taking safe sex education into various sections of society such as schools, government offices, labourers, commercial sex workers and more recently, to the Christian community in the country.

In addition to abandoned sufferers, all HIV/Aids patients in local hospitals are now referred to the group.
"The volunteers support and educate people living with HIV/Aids and their families once the patients are discharged from hospital," says Margarette Roberts, the International Federation's health delegate in Myanmar. "Their dedication extends to financially supporting some of their community based activities with their own money. Otherwise, they sell food during festivals to raise funds."

In recognition of their work, the Myanmar Red Cross will send one of the volunteers to attend the 5th International Conference on Home and Community care for Persons Living with HIV/Aids which will be held in Thailand in December. The Myanmar Red Cross, in conjunction with UNICEF, will also build a youth centre in Lashio to capitalise on the commitment and to build on the experience of the Chronic Disease Support Group.

"There are still so many outstanding needs in this region, especially programmes targeting young people and drug users. The Myanmar Red Cross wants to enhance their work with these groups and collaborate with neighbouring towns on HIV prevention and care in the community," adds Margarette Roberts