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Introduction
Myanmar has been affected by armed conflict and the worsening impact of natural hazards. Most pressing humanitarian health needs are driven by the lack of access to basic health care as a result of damage and destruction of health facilities; direct attacks on health centres, health workers, patients and ambulances; logistical challenges in securing life-saving medical supplies; and the lack of trained health workers. Women, children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and those with mental health needs are disproportionately affected, facing heightened risks and barriers to accessing care. Additionally, large-scale displacement, unsafe drinking water, inadequate sanitation, and the interruption of routine health programmes, including vaccination and vector control interventions, are significantly increasing the risk of disease outbreaks.
An outbreak of Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) / cholera that started in July 2024 has been lingering in the country’s largest city, Yangon, expanding to Mandalay, Mon, and Rakhine. Due to the ongoing shortage of malaria supplies, malaria cases are resurging in several regions and states of Myanmar. Dengue remains a major public health concern, affecting an increasing number of people, mostly children under 15 years of age. The risk of measles outbreaks is high, especially in IDP camps. Vaccination coverage for childhood illnesses is persistently low. An estimated 1.5 million children under-five have missed basic vaccinations since 2018, posing a serious threat to the risk of measles and diphtheria outbreaks and possible re-emergence of polio. Widespread displacement caused by armed conflict, climatic disasters, and ethnic tensions has put IDPs and migrant populations at increased risk of public health threats due to overcrowding, poor overall living standards, and limited health care infrastructure.
Lack of access to reliable data is impeding a rapid and effective response to disease outbreaks.
The Health Cluster is prioritizing the preparedness for, prevention of, and response to public health emergencies by mobilizing resources to enable health partners to provide life-saving health services to vulnerable populations.
Crucial in the ability for partners to respond, is the availability of reliable and timely data on disease patterns through the Early Warning, Alert and Response System (EWARS), to which currently a limited number of partners are reporting, in Rakhine and Kachin states. The Health Cluster aims to expand the number of reporting units and timeliness of reporting of EWARS, to enable more effective response to alerts of potential disease outbreaks.
In an environment with ever-increasing needs and decreased funding, the below priorities for the 2025 and 2026 have been identified:
1 Advocate for increased access to quality health services, through mobile clinics, static health facilities and teleconsultation with a strong focus on:
- sexual and reproductive health services (including for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence)
- inclusion of people with disabilities and older people
2 Strengthen quality of, and access to data for needs analysis and informed decision-making
3 Provide relevant training and technical guidance to health partners on specific topics
4 Strengthen coordination with development actors to address root causes of recurrent disease outbreaks
5 Strengthen subnational coordination, including through the establishment of health cluster co-coordinators from NGO partners
6 Strengthen the role of local NGOs through the development of a Myanmar health cluster localization strategy