Thailand Launches Additional Malaria Posts Along Its Border With Myanmar Through Support From Global Fund

Thailand's Ministry of Public Health has launched additional malaria posts in three provinces located along the country's border with Myanmar through support from the Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, The Irrawaddy reports. According to Suphakit Sirilak, deputy director of the Department of Health in Thailand's Tak province, there has been concern that malaria outbreaks will increase in Thailand because of the flow of Myanmarese migrant workers into the country since August 2005, when the Global Fund announced a suspension of grants to Myanmar (Paung/Silp, The Irrawaddy, 3/30). When announcing its suspension of grants to Myanmar, the Global Fund cited travel and other restrictions implemented by the country's government that impede the delivery of medical supplies and services. The fund in 2004 pledged to spend $98 million over five years to fight the three diseases in the country (GlobalHealthReporting.org, 1/25). The new Thai malaria posts are located in Trat, Surat Thani and Ranong, provinces with large numbers of Myanmarese migrant workers. The first malaria posts supported by the Global Fund opened in 2003 in Thailand's Tak, Mae Hong Son and Kanchanaburi provinces. Additional posts were launched in Chumporn, Prachuap, Khirikhan and Yala provinces in 2004. "The results from our operations over the last two years show that we are becoming very effective," Sirilak said, adding that officials have seen a decrease in the number of Thai and Myanmarese malaria patients, as well as malaria mortality, over the past two years. The malaria posts -- which are operated by the ministry of health -- are staffed by local health care workers who are trained in malaria diagnosis and provide examinations and treatment at no cost. The Global Fund has pledged almost $5.3 million over five years to fight malaria in Thailand (The Irrawaddy, 3/30).