In response to the devastating earthquakes that struck central Myanmar on 28 March, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (the Global Fund) has approved an emergency funding allocation of US$5 million to support urgent health needs in affected regions.
“The scale of devastation in Myanmar is truly staggering, with the impact on already vulnerable communities being nothing short of catastrophic,” said Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund. “This crisis goes far beyond the destruction of buildings and infrastructure; it puts lives at risk through disrupted health care, the threat of disease outbreaks, and the severe shortage of essential medicines. Our emergency funding aims to restore vital health services, ensuring that those living with HIV, tuberculosis,s and malaria continue to receive the lifesaving treatment they desperately need.”
This emergency funding will prioritize the continuation of diagnosis and treatment of the three diseases – tuberculosis (TB), HIV, and malaria – through procurement of essential medical supplies, including antiretroviral drugs, TB medications, malaria diagnostics, and other critical health commodities.
Additionally, the funding will support the restoration of disrupted healthcare services and strengthen disease prevention efforts.
This response is particularly urgent given the increased risk of communicable diseases, due to overcrowding, limited access to safe drinking water, and poor sanitation in displacement camps.
“The challenge ahead is immense, but our response must be equally robust and adaptive,” said Mark Edington, Head of Grant Management at the Global Fund. “Our emergency funding will not only facilitate the procurement of crucial health products but also underscore our commitment to restoring and maintaining health care services amid this disaster. By prioritizing both immediate relief and the strengthening of health systems, we aim to mitigate the long-term impacts of this tragedy and improve health outcomes for communities across Myanmar.”
The earthquake has devastated communities across Myanmar, where ongoing conflict and displacement have already placed immense strain on healthcare systems. Reports indicate that multiple key population service centers in Mandalay and Sagaing have been destroyed, disrupting HIV prevention and treatment services, while critical warehouses storing medicines and test kits have been damaged. TB case detection and treatment follow-ups have been disrupted due to damaged healthcare facilities, destroyed roads,and the displacement of health workers. Additionally, malaria cases are expected to rise as thousands of displaced individuals sleep outdoors without adequate protection from mosquitoes.
The Global Fund’s emergency response will focus on:
- HIV diagnosis and treatment: Supporting the continuation of HIV diagnosis and treatment in the short- and medium-term through the provision of HIV commodities.
- TB case notification and treatment: Supporting ongoing TB notification efforts and uninterrupted treatment to the patients affected by the earthquakes through securing adequate amounts of diagnostics and anti-TB medicine.
- Malaria case management and prevention: Providing malaria test kits and first-line treatment drugs and distributing bed nets to mitigate the rising transmission risk among displaced populations, particularly in hard-to-reach areas where access to health care is already severely limited.
- Strengthening health systems and maintaining essential services: Ensuring primary health care facilities or service delivery points that provide HIV, TB, and malaria services are supported and mitigate the risk of disruption to services.
The Global Fund will continue working with its partners in Myanmar, including local health organizations, to ensure the effective and rapid delivery of lifesaving health interventions to those most in need.
The earthquakes, which originated along the Sagaing Fault, have resulted in over 3,000 reported deaths and more than 4,500 injuries, while severely damaging critical infrastructure, including health facilities, road networks, bridges, and airports in Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw. The World Health Organization has classified this emergency as a Grade 3 humanitarian crisis, the highest level of emergency response.
