Myanmar rejects AIDS control critic

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Subject: Myanmar rejects AIDS control criticism

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Myanmar rejects AIDS control criticism

BANGKOK, Sept 8 (AFP) - Myanmar on Wednesday rejected warnings it could
face an AIDS epidemic unless it cooperates more closely with Thailand to
control the spread of HIV among seafarers.

Speakers at a major conference on maritime workers Tuesday said not
enough was being done to stop the spread of HIV in the maritime
industry. 

"It is a cross border issue and there has been very limited activity in
this area in most countries in the region," said Dr Wiwat
Rojanapithayakorn from the United Nations organisation UNAIDS.

"For example if the Thai government initiates a program then the other
side will not participate or if the Myanmar government initiates
something the Thais say it's Myanmar's problem." 

Myanmar's government said in a statement sent to AFP it was taking steps
to control the spread of HIV, but played down the extent of the
country's AIDS problem.

"Myanmar does not have a sex industry and the number of drug users
compared to other countries is very much less," a spokesman said.

Cross border programs were underway in the Myawaddy, Kyaington,
Tachilek, Kawthaung and Muse border areas, the spokesman said.

"Myanmar is actively participating in UNAIDS regional programs, ASEAN
regional programs and Greater Mekong Subregion AIDS program," it said.

Health experts estimate up to 13 percent of maritime workers plying the
waters off Thailand, Myanmar and Cambodia are infected with HIV - the
virus whch causes AIDS.

Illegal workers from Myanmar make up about 80 percent of seafarers
operating off Thailand's coast.

No-one at the Thai ministry of public health was available for comment.

UNAIDS estimates there are about one million HIV/AIDS sufferers in
Thailand and 440,000 in Myanmar.

It has warned the number of HIV sufferers in Asia could soon outstrip
sub-Saharan Africa.
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