Illicit Drug use in the Asia Pacific Region - Burnet Institute

Situational analysis of illicit drug issues and responses in the Asia–Pacific region
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B3 .6 Myanmar
Australian Federal Police
The AFP has two liaison officers in Yangon .
AusAID
Project title
Burnet: Youth HIV/AIDS Training Facility
Aims
Burma HIV/AIDS-related activities are funded
under the Burma Community Health Program
Round 3 which had as a priority basic health
and HIV/AIDS-related activities . This was in
response to the HIV/AIDS-related challenges
being faced in Burma . The program goal is
to reduce the vulnerability of young people
to HIV infection and transmission in selected
areas of Burma (by improving the quality and
effectiveness of programs) . HIV/AIDS skills
training and capacity building programs
for local staff of selected international and
local NGOs, UNICEF and Government Township
Aids Committees (TACs) . Skills will be
strengthened in conducting assessments of
vulnerability to HIV infection, participatory
youth research at the community level;
developing strategic plans to respond to
HIV in young people; and specific areas such
as behaviour change communication; STI
diagnosis and treatment; care and support,
including stigma reduction; harm reduction
related to injecting drug use; and prevention
of parent-to-child transmission of HIV .
Timeframe
Feb 2003 – April 2006
Funding amount
$742,600
Project title
TEAR: Community Health Options, Kachin
Aims
This project’s main development objectives
are: (1) to build the capacity of local communities
in Kachin and northern Shan States
to identify and address common priorities
for improved health; and (2) in partnership
with communities, to develop and improve
sustainable practices in primary health care,
including effective approaches to HIV/AIDS
and substance abuse issues .
Timeframe
2001–2004 (project completed)
Funding amount
AusAID contributed $598,860 over three years
(the project’s total budget was $798,440) .
Project title
Mekong Drugs Initiative: community-based
demand reduction in Northern Shan State,
Burma
Aims
Following the Minister’s announcement of
$1 million for drug control activities in the
Mekong Basin, Australia signed an agreement
with UNDCP, providing for whole or part
funding of initiatives in demand reduction
and alternative development . These activities
are seen as complementary in addressing
health and poverty aspects of illicit drug use .
There was a policy preference for regional
activities including Burma, which was the
major source of heroin reaching Australia at
that time .
Activity description: This project aimed
to reduce the incidence of drug abuse in
north-east Burma by extending an existing
community-based demand reduction program
from a few selected villages near Muse to
key townships along the road to Mandalay .
Using community-based offices, the project
provided and monitored revolving loans for
community-based demand reduction and
social development activities to villages within
these townships; provided health education;
detoxification programs and training in community
management, financial management
and gender awareness .
Timeframe
2000–2003 (completed)
Funding amount
$490,000
Project title
Food Assistance to Vulnerable
Communities in Northern Shan State
Aims
Alternative development — food security .
Burma WFP funding falls under the rationale
of the Burma Humanitarian Framework (the
Humanitarian Framework guides program
planning in Burma), which stresses the
provision of humanitarian assistance to
vulnerable groups, particularly those in the
border areas of Burma .
Activity description: This project aims to
prevent a decline in food security of expoppy
farming and vulnerable households,
increasing school enrolments and preventing
mass migration to neighbouring areas and
lowlands .
Timeframe
2003–2004 (completed)
Funding amount
$855,000
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Appendix B: Regional aid projects, in full