Issue 14 Volume 4 April - June World Health Day 2007: Invest in Health – Build a Safer Future he official ceremony for World Health Day 2007 was organized by the TGovernment of Union of Myanmar, on 7 April 2007, Saturday, at Nay Pyi Taw. The ceremony was inaugurated by the Secretary 1 of the State Peace and Development Council, Lt Gen Thein Sein, who delivered a key note address. It was also attended by Major General Wai Lwin, Commander of Nay Pyi Taw Command, Ministers and Members of the National Health Committee, Representatives form UN Agencies, National and International NGOs and officials from the Ministry of Secretary 1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Thein Sein delivers a speech at the Health. World Health Day 2007 opening ceremony at Nay Pyi Taw. According to the agenda, Prof Adik Wibowo, WHO Representative to Myanmar Plianbangchang, the WHO Regional Director Health. Fours speakers from various read out the Message from Dr Samlee for the South-East Asia Region, for the departments under the Ministry of Health, World Health Day 2007. Following the namely; Dr Phone Myint, Director, inaugural ceremony, the invited guests Department of Planning, Dr Soe Lwin Nyein, viewed the World Health Day Mini- Deputy Director, Department of Health, Dr Exhibition displayed by the Ministry of Than Zaw Myint, Director, Department of Health and WHO Country Office, Myanmar. Medical Sciences and Dr Myo Khin, Deputy After the official ceremony a Director General, Department of Medical Technical Seminar on "Invest in Health, Research, central Myanmar, gave Build a Safer Future" was organized by presentations related to global health WHO in collaboration with the Ministry of security and investment in health. Later Health. The seminar was moderated by Prof participants made questions, comments and Adik Wibowo, WR-Myanmar, Prof Than discussions. WHO Country Office, Myanmar Myint, Director General of Department of hosted a luncheon to mark the successful Medical Sciences and Dr Kyaw Nyunt Sein, conclusion of World Health Day 2007 ceremony and technical seminar. The panel of moderators for the Technical Seminar. Deputy Director General of Department of Workshop on "Evidence based approach to Cancer Management" Workshop on "Evidence based Participants were from various approach to Cancer Management" was specialties such as medical oncology, Aconducted at the Department of radiation oncology, surgery, gynecology, Medical Research, Lower Myanmar from 14 maxillo-facial surgery, ENT, pathology and to 15 June 2007. chest medicine. Dr. Kyaw Min, Director General, Highlights of the workshop for the Department of Medical Research (Lower first day were the presentations by Myanmar) delivered the opening speech. Associate Professor Dr. Soe Aung, Dr. Nihal Singh on behalf of Professor Associate Professor Dr. Soe Oo Maung and Adik Wibowo, WHO Representative to Professor Han Win on medical oncology, Myanmar delivered a speech. radiation oncology, surgical management of common malignancies respectively. Highlights of the workshop for the Dr Kyaw Min, Director General, Department of second day were the presentations by Medical Research (Lower Myanmar), delivering the Professor Than Than Tin, Professor Khin opening speech. Maung Lwin, Professor Thein Tun and common cancers namely cervical, breast, lung, Professor Khin Maung Aye on the ENT and gastrointestinal cancers. The management of gynecological malignancies, discussion also highlighted on issues relating maxillo-facial malignancies, ENT to prevention and provision of effective malignancies and lung malignancies medical treatment for cancer patients. respectively. Recommendations of the workshop were There was also group work in which the drafted and finalized, after which the participants discussed and presented on workshop concluded on the evening of the the updates , current and latest trends for Presentation by Prof Han Win on surgical second day. management of common malignancies. prevention and management of five most World Health Organization - Myanmar 7th Floor, Yangon International Hotel, 330 Ahlone Road, Dagon Township, Yangon, Myanmar. National workshop on low-cost water supply, sanitation and hygiene intervention morning session of the workshop and supply, sanitation and for change provided a brief overview on the concepts towards healthy behavior. of low-cost intervention, achievements of 3. To acquire more specific and reliable the past decade, gaps and constraints, data with regard to water supply, country issues and challenges and verifiable sanitation and hygiene. indicators. 4. To include sanitary disposal of refuse The workshop started with three and garbage in the environmental working groups doing exercises and sanitation programme in addition to use brainstorming on identification of problems of sanitary latrines. and actions needed to address these issues 5. In the township and rural level, planning, regarding water supply, sanitation and not only for increase in coverage but hygiene interventions. Group discussions and also to strengthen and develop healthy presentations reflected the true situation behavior to be included and for which follow up actions were implemented. Presentation on low-cost water supply, sanitation and recommended. hygiene intervention 6. In project planning, focus should be The second day of the workshop towards interventions which are continued with the same groups working on he national workshop on low-cost water effective and easily implemented by the preparation of a frame work on low-cost supply, sanitation and hygiene community itself. water supply, sanitation and hygiene intervention was conducted from 17-18 T interventions at the township and rural level. The workshop was attended by (25) May 2007 at Royal Kumudra Hotel, Nay Pyi After presentation and plenary discussion participants from respective government Taw. The opening speech was delivered by Dr. on township and rural planning, consensus departments which include Environmental Tin Min, Deputy Director General (Medical was reached regarding the follow up actions Sanitation Division (ESD) of DOH, Central care), on behalf of the Director General, to be taken. Health Education Bureau (CHEB) of DOH, Department of Health. School Health (Department of Health), The outcome of the workshop were the The objectives of the workshop were: Department of Development Affairs (DDA), following recommendations: 1) To promote awareness on low-cost water General Administrative Department (GAD), 1. To organize the community in line with supply, environmental sanitation and Department of Education Planning and their needs and provide necessary personal hygiene Training (DEPT), Ministry of Science and training, support and field supervision Technology (MOST), WHO, UNICEF, 2) To develop sustainable low-cost for sustaining the activities for water Township Health Department (Pyinmarnar), interventions. supply, sanitation and hygiene. Township Health Department (Laiwai), Swa After the opening session, U Myint Kyi, 2. To use integrated approach in the Station Hospital and National and WHO National Consultant, moderated the implementation of activities for water International NGOs. HINARI and HELLIS training workshop ith the support of WHO, the The HINARI program, set up by WHO Department of Medical Sciences together with major publishers, enables W conducted the HINARI (Health developing countries to gain access to one Internetwork Access to Research Initiative) to the world's largest collections of and HELLIS (Health Literature, Library and biomedical and health literature. Over 3750 Information Services) training workshop from journal titles are now available to health 25th June to 29th June 2007 in Yangon at the institutions in 113 countries, benefiting many Medical Education Centre conference hall. The thousands of health workers and workshop was targeted to build capacity in researchers, in turn, contributing to HELLIS libraries who have not yet integrated improved world health. The HINARI the HINARI into their library services. website can be found at www.who.int/hinari. The workshop was facilitated by Mr Steven Glover, Librarian, Paterson Institute for Cancer Research, Christie Hospital NHS Mr Steven Glover giving the training to the participants and research scientists at the HINARI Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK and and HELLIS training workshop at the Medical assisted by Ms Marla Win, Librarian from Education Centre. WHO country office, Myanmar. Based on this background during one week 17 register for their institutes. Additional librarians from national institutes of presentations include how to run a training different parts of Myanmar, an information workshop and how to manage references assistant from WHO country office, using Biblioscape Express 3. Myanmar and 6 research officers/scientists The workshop concluded with the key from Department of Medical Research were resource person discussing on how to take trained on-line. As part of the training, forward the knowledge and skills gained from participants and observers had the chance the workshop. Focusing on advocacy to observe demonstrations and practice in strategies such as promotion, marketing, accessing and retrieving full text articles advertising, disseminating the username and Participants at the HINARI and HELLIS training from HINARI website using Pubmed and password to eligible institution members, workshop. MyNCBI. They also had the opportunity to training, and communication. 2 WHO Myanmar newsletter Issue 14 volume 4 April