The relief flights of Myanmar Airways International and Myanmar National Airlines landed at the Yangon International Airport yesterday bringing back a total of 201 Myanmar citizensstranded in Cambodia and Singapore.

Fifty-four Myanmar citizens were taken by the second relief of MAI from Cambodia, and 147 citizens by 20th relief flight of MNA.

The relief flights were organized by the Myanmar embassies in these countries.

The Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population, the Ministry of Health and Sports and the Yangon Region government arranged 14-day quarantine at specific places or designated hotels, followed by the 7-day home quarantine.

To bring back the Myanmar citizens who are stranded in foreign countries by relief flights and chartered flights in accordance with the instructions from National-Level Central Committee on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs cooperated with the relevant ministries and Myanmar embassies from respective countries and brought back a total of 17,640 citizens to date.

MNA

(Translated by Ei Phyu Phyu Aung)

Photo: MNA

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Union Minister Dr Win Myat Aye gave a speech for the 25th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women held online on 1 October during the 75th Session of the UN General Assembly.

This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, which was first organized in China in 1995. It was held under the topic of gender equality and empowerment women worldwide.

In his remarks, the Union Minister said that all the world countries face many challenges due to COVID-19 pandemic, Myanmar also conduct COVID-19 prevention, control and treatment activities while carrying out the transition processes into democracy system, the participation of women in transition processes for democracy system including peace processes, prohibition of gender discrimination according to the Union Accord as part of peace processes, 30 per cent of women participation in each sectors, drafting policies to prevent gender based violence and agreements to promote women›s abilities.

Myanmar is working hard to promote gender equality and protect vulnerable groups in some ways by stipulating laws and policies and 11 women organizations are serving for the women affairs in active ways under the instruction of Myanmar National Committee on Women Affairs with 2013-2022 National Strategic Plan for the Advancement of Women.

He continued saying that the Prevention and Protection of Violence against Women Bill was submitted to the Hluttaw, and the country also carries out to approve the action plan (bill) to prevent and protect the violence against women in conflict areas. The government also conducts response activities for all inclusive of women and girls in vulnerable groups and uses K2.1billion to help the people at IDP camps by making COVID-19 Prevention, Control and Treatment Plan.

He also pledged that the country will continue carrying out for the gender equality and empowerment of women while adopting CERP for economic impacts including rehabilitation processes.

MNA

(Translated by Khine Thazin Han)

Photo: MNA

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The Department of Information Technology and Cyber Security under the Ministry of Transport and Communications and the Ministry of Information jointly held cyber security awareness talks via videoconferencing yesterday morning.

The online event was attended by Union Minister Dr Pe Myint, Deputy Minister U Aung Hla Tun and departmental heads, officials from the Department of Information Technology and Cyber Security and the National Cyber Security Centre, those from the Union level organizations, the ministries, chief information officers from region/state governments, vice-rectors, deans and tutors from the technology universities and computer universities, representatives from communication operators and internet service companies, and staff members and officers from the Ministry of Information.

In his opening remark, Union Minister Dr Pe Myint talked about the importance of cyber security for internet users, prevention of damages to hardware and software for information security, the emergence of ‘new media’ with the development of ICT, and upgrade of media platforms to meet new modern technologies.

He also explained studies, discussions and exchange of knowledge of new technologies in media at the MoI departments this year by inviting experts in this sector.

U Sai Saw Lin, Acting Director-General of Department of Information Technology and Cyber Security, discussed the information theft and damage in cyber attacks across the world, disclosure of secret information to destroy dignity of the organizations under the attacks, hacking the websites of government ministries, private companies and online shopping, increasing cyber attacks and abuses during COVID-19 crisis, organizing annual events of Myanmar Cyber Security Challenge since 2015, participating in international cyber security contests, and more effective cooperation in security issues among the relevant organizations.

Officials then held talks on the topics about the Cyber Security Policy & Legal Framework Development, the Role of Cyber Security in Government Organization, the PlugX RAT, CobaltStrike and Mustang Panda, the Learn about Ransomware attacks in Myanmar and how to prevent them, the SIEM Platform Introduction, the Email Security Introduction, and the Approach to Hardening of Individual Host -Host Security.

MNA

(Translated by Aung Khin)

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Union Election Commission held a virtual meeting with the civil society organizations focusing the issues of persons with disabilities yesterday morning.

Chairman of UEC U Hla Thein, and commission members, representatives from the 29 CSOs for PWDs, the responsible persons from International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) took part in the meeting which discussed the cooperation between the UEC and the CSOs to ensure the participation of the PWDs in the 2020 General Election.

The UEC Chairman said that the Article 369 (a) of the Constitution and the Article 29 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities provide for equal political and electoral rights of persons with disabilities.

He also added that every person with disability has the right to vote in the elections and has the right to be elected in the election according to the Section 29 and Section 30 of the Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, enacted by the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw in 2015.

The UEC’s Strategic Plan (2014-2018) and (2019-2022) also included a section on promoting inclusiveness, focusing on the right of all persons with disabilities to vote.

In the 2017 and 2018 by-elections, the commission arranged 9 model polling stations in 5 townships of the Yangon Region, Sagaing Region and Chin State to facilitate the voting of the people with disabilities.

The commission also helped the visually impaired persons with Braille Template to vote in the election. There are a total number of 87,280 disabled voters in 2020 General Election.

He continued that the commission provided the demonstration lessons and follow-up trainings on disability voting during the electoral capacity building trainings held in Grand Amara Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw in November 2019.

As the 2020 General Election will be organized druing the COVID-19 crisis, the commission is working to ensure safe and secure voting in accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Sports.—MNA (Translated by Ei Phyu Phyu Aung)

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A total of 173 Myanmar citizens landed in Yangon yesterday by a relief flight of Myanmar Airways International.

The Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population, the Ministry of Health and Sports and the Yangon Region government arranged 14-day quarantine at specific places or designated hotels, followed by the 7-day home quarantine.

The Myanmar embassy in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia is collaborating with relevant organizations to bring the citizens back home after scrutinizing national verifications of undocumented nationals and those who were held at the detention centres.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has organized 17 relief flights from Malaysia until now.

MNA

(Translated by Aung Khin)

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The Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement organized a videoconferencing yesterday to adopt a work plan for promoting ‘civics and decent citizens’ which is a priority of the National Strategic Plan for Youth Policy (2020-2024).

Union Minister Dr Win Myat Aye in his capacity as the Chairman of Myanmar Youth Affairs Committee, Deputy Minister U Soe Aung, the Permanent Secretary, the directors-general, officials from Social Welfare Department and representatives from UNFPA Myanmar joined the online discussion.

The Union Minister said that Myanmar has developed the National Strategic Plan for Youth Policy on 20 August, and the plan includes prioritizing the sector for civics and decent citizens to promote human rights values, democratic norms and federalism among the young people; to implement training programmes for nurturing decent citizens, to encourage volunteer sprit; to provide the youth with some incentives such as certain amount of salary and capacity building courses; to develop the mindset of responsibility and accountability; to carry out anti-corruption works.

He also encouraged development of volunteering sprit among the young persons including civil service personnel, and advised to perform the duties of ministries in measures against COVID-19 in coordination with the relevant ministries, civil society organizations, UN agencies and INGOs.

The Director-General of Social Welfare Department presented work plans for civics and decent citizens, the work plans with the ministries and the estimate budgets.

The Deputy Minister gave advice on drawing the plan; followed by the discussions of senior officers, UNFPA Myanmar’s youth committee members to coordinate with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health and Sports and other relevant ministries, the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission, the Union Civil Service Board, the Anti-Corruption Commission and UN agencies.

MNA

(Translated by Aung Khin)

Photo:MNA

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The Ministry of Health and Sports and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) yesterday afternoon organized a virtual meeting on matters related to signing an agreement (2021-2023) for TB, HIV/syphilis, and malaria cares in Myanmar and matters related to purchasing medicines and medical accessories for COVID-19 response efforts of the ministry, via videoconferencing.

The agreement for TB, HIV/syphilis, and malaria cares will be funded through the Global Fund.

During the virtual meeting, Union Minister for Health and Sports Dr Myint Htwe expressed thanks to UNOPS for helping the ministry in purchasing medicines and medical supplies for COVID-19 response efforts by using the fund provided by UN and other international organizations. He said that the ministry is efficiently using the fund, medicines and medical accessories. He continued that hospitals in Yangon Region now have ‘medical supplies management dashboard’ in order to fulfil the needs in the hospitals.

He urged medical supplies purchasing and distribution experts of UNOPS and the experts of the Ministry of Health and Sports to jointly review the ministry’s current medical supplies purchasing and distribution system in order to improve it.

He highlighted the need to avoid lack of supportive care and lack of medicines for patients with TB, HIV/syphilis, and malaria, and other patients amidst COVID-19 pandemic. Otherwise, death rates of the three diseases may be higher, so the ministry has done necessary preparations, according to the Union Minister.

He said that the help of UNOPS in purchasing 87 medicines and medical accessories for COVID-19 response efforts is very useful. He requested the UNOPS officials to help the ministry quickly get 95 ICU Ventilators.

UNOPS Yangon Office Programme Director Dr Attila Molnar said that USD$7.1 million, previously approved by the Global Fund, was allowed to be spent for COVID-19 response efforts of the ministry, and the Global Fund approved $18 million as C19RM support. He also discussed UNOPS’s preparation for Global Fund’s support (2021-2023) and the plan to sign the Global Fund’s Agreement in December this year.

He said that he feels glad to cooperate with the ministry in prevention, control and treatment of COVID-19. He called on Myanmar officials to allow the transport of medical supplies from one area to another across the nation despite COVID-19 related travel restrictions.

He said that using Antigen Test Kits in COVID-19 control efforts in Myanmar is appropriate, and if Myanmar wants to buy more Antigen Test Kits by spending the remaining fund, UNOPS will help Myanmar buy them. He also stressed that Myanmar has made impressive progress in the fight against TB, HIV/syphilis, and malaria.

Union Minister Dr Myint Htwe said that COVID-19 response efforts need to be taken in real-time, so the ministry and UNOPS need to hold virtual meetings via video conferencing at least once a month. He pledged that his ministry will cooperate with other relevant ministries to facilitate efficient transport of medical supplies from one area to another in Myanmar. He said that the ministry had already increased the budget for the Department of Medical Services to buy medicines and accessories to K300 billion this year. Similarly, the ministry increased the budget for the Department of Public Health to buy medicines and medical accessories. He concluded that the Deputy Director-General (Disease Control) and other relevant officials will make detailed discussions and negotiations to prepare for signing the Global Fund Agreement in December this year.

MNA

(Translated by Maung Maung Swe)

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The Ministry of Commerce held a seminar to improve the quality and export volume of rubber via Zoom application yesterday morning.

Union Minister Dr Than Myint said that the relevant departments, organizations, farmers, merchants, factory owners and those participating in supply chain processes must cooperate to find a solution to manufacture better quality rubber products.

The rubber industry is one of the prioritized sectors while the government is implementing a total of 18 sectors -11 prioritized products, 2 services and 5 supportive sectors under National Export Strategy (NES) which includes actions to boost Myanmar’s export sector and market penetration. Only the rubber products that meet the Myanmar’s rubber criteria and international quality standards can be exported to foreign countries. It can overcome the difficulties and obstacles in exporting only with the active participation of those in supply chain processes and it can promote the export sector of the country, he said.

Deputy Minister U Aung Htoo briefed rubber export volume in each financial year, overseas market status and the ministry’s work programmes for the development of rubber industry.

The experts from relevant sector read papers at the seminar with the discussions of rubber farmers, factory owners and merchants.

In conclusion, the Union Minister coordinated short- and long-tem plans for rubber industry.

MNA

(Translated by Khaine Thazin Han)

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UNION Minister for Health and Sports Dr Myint Htwe held a virtual coordination meeting with superintendents, professors and officials in Yangon Region on treatments of COVID-19 patients and quarantine measures yesterday.

During the meeting, the Union Minister said that the purpose of the meeting is to know the resources required for COVID-19 treatment centres, hospitals and quarantine facilities and to share experiences.

The Union Minister urged the attendees to report about the matters needed to be fulfilled by the ministry, and to imitate the good works of other departments and hospitals and also said that the ministry is working with various plans to respond to the COVID-19 in real-time.

Medical specialists are making efforts to reduce COVID-19 death rate, and the role of medical superintendents is also very important, he added.

He further said that the rate of mortality will decline if the works on fulfilling and distributing COVID-19 medicines and medical supplies at hospitals, delegation, management and treatment of hospital staff and connections among relevant officials are improved.

He also urged the medical superintendents and medical specialists to openly discuss experiencing challenges and difficulties in making efforts for reducing death rate.

The rate of infection and death toll of COVID-19 are increasing even in developed countries.

He appreciated the healthcare workers, relevant departments and organizations and volunteers for making efforts by effectively using resources.

He also urged the medical officials to immediately decide and implement the difficult tasks on policies and strategies for hospitals in cooperation with Yangon Region Committee on Prevention, Control and Treatment of COVID-19.

Medicines and medical supplies that are required at the hospitals in Yangon Region are fulfilled by reviewing the medical supplies management dashboard, therefore, medical superintendents need to update the medical supplies data of their hospitals at the dashboard.

He added that the ministry has discussed establishment of a better hospital logistics system with Myanmar Medical Association and hospital administration group.

Deputy Minister Dr Mya Lay Sein reported on distribution and storage of medicines and medical supplies, and the ordering of 200,000 sets of rapid antigen test kits for COVID-19.

Permanent Secretary Dr Thet Khaing Win detailed about referral pathway and treatment measures.

Director-General of Union Minister Office Dr Tha Tun Kyaw presented arrangements for accommodation of suspected COVID-19 patients in Yangon Region and regular virtual meetings of healthcare workers and medical professionals.

Director-General of Public Health and Medical Service Department Dr Soe Oo reported on fulfillment of requirement, human resources management, assigning of new nurses at the hospitals in Yangon, and coordinating efforts between central and region level officials and onground team members.

Rector of the University of Medicine (1) Professor Doctor Zaw Wai Soe presented the challenges and the matters of urgent need in quarantine centres, hospitals, COVID-19 treatment centres; and to use the wards in Yangon University of Nursing for the medical staff as they would risk to go back home after providing medical care to the COVID-19 patients.

The officials from relevant medical departments discussed the preparation of the wards in Yangon General Hospital to accommodate the COVID-19 patients, the lab testing conditions and the preparation of the guidance to use global health certification test kits, to designate a hospital for medical staff who are infected the COVID-19 disease, the discussion with Myanmar Medical Association to assign private general practitioners who want to involve in the treatment of COVID-19, the condition of providing medical care to those who are not COVID-19 patients and long term plans, the assignments to the management teams in quarantine centres, the conditions of the patient transfer from the quarantine centres , the condition of medical treatment and the sending lab tests from the Yangon General Hospital, the conditions in the North Okkalapa General Hospital and the assignment to the special nurses at the needed hospitals since the surgery cases are suspended.

The officials also gave suggestions at the meeting to set up the oxygen pipe line at the hospitals including the Yangon General Hospital which will be needed in the long run, to install beds at the extended special medical treatment centres and to assign the special nurses.

The hospital superintendents for Waibargi hospital, South Okkalapa hospital and COVID-19 treatment centre (Phaunggyi) presented the need to install portable X-ray system, portable ultrasound system and liquid oxygen.

The Union Minister decided to install portable X-ray system, portable ultrasound system and liquide oxygen pipe line immediately and urged all the officials from respective medical departments and hospital superintendents to continue the coordination meeting regularly; to present the necessary things from the meeting to the Ministry immediately and said that the Ministry also will fulfill the needs as fast as possible.

The Union Minister continued that the officials discuss to manage the suspected patients in the early morning every day through video conferencing; the Yangon COVID-19 committee discusses at 5 pm every day; at 10 pm every day, the officials discuss the management of the hospitals for COVID-19 patients and the central field team (3) is also trying to contain the spread of the virus.

The Union Minister concluded that it was very important to make decision in a timely manner in containing the COVID-19 disease; the fatal disease could be controlled soon by coordinating between the COVID-19 teams and deciding in a timely manner and to present only the policy issues and subsequent occurrences to the Central level.

MNA

PHOTO: MNA

(Translated by Kyaw Zin Tun, Ei Phyu Phyu Aung)

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THE Union Election Commission and Myanmar Press Council jointly organized an online ‘2020 General Election & News Media Role’ meeting yesterday morning, and UEC Chair U Hla Thein was present on the occasion. Myanmar Press Council Chairperson U Ohn Kyaing (Hantharwady - U Ohn Kyaing), the UEC members, the officials with the UEC office and the Myanmar Press Council, the officials with UNESCO, and 19 media personnel with 19 news media group among others attended the meeting.

The UEC Chair and Myanmar Press Council Chair delivered their opening remarks, respectively. Next, Union Election Commission Member U Myint Naing and the officials with Myanmar Press Council briefed on the matters pertaining to the 2020 General Election and the role of news media during the general elections.

Then, a question and answer session was held and UEC Member U Myint Naing answered the questions raised by the attending media personnel. This online meeting will reportedly be held until today (20 September 2020).

MNA

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