Some scholars define the word ‘Myanmar’ as a quick, alert, healthy, fit and tough people. Since the time when it was named ‘Myanmar’, it has never been recorded as a spineless or notorious people. In the colonial days, the colonialists in their record admitted that they could not occupy the country easily. Had Myanmar been able to keep abreast of international affairs with technology and a wide knowledge at that time, the colonialists could not have invaded Myanmar.

Due to lack of knowledge about international affairs, Myanmar fell under the rule of the colonialists that had been colonizing other countries around the world and expanding their colonial empire. Myanmar was capable of contending with the colonialists in physical prowess and hardness. Myanmar people could make the colonialists get into difficulties considerably.

By nature, Myanmar people are honest and gentle and they lead a peaceful life. At the same time, they are capable of repulsing any alien invasion without placing reliance on any other countries and are brilliant and strong with the spirit of making sacrifices if necessary to protect and safeguard the image of own lineage. In the present time, the entire people have managed to convene the National Convention successfully, braving various forms of destructive acts created by the colonialists and national traitors. In accordance with the State’s seven-step Road Map, the constitution will be drafted and approved through a referendum.

Myanmar also managed to improve the economic, health and social sectors with self- reliant efforts, withstanding subversive acts, and so it is now reaping the fruits of its hard work. However, internal destructive elements, who are desperate to seize power through short-cut in their own interests, in collusion with neo-colonialists are disrupting the tasks for national development. The colonialists’ minion organizations released made-up stories and willfully stated Myanmar’s health standard lower than it really was.

Certain organizations are releasing exaggerated stories through foreign media that Myanmar people are deprived of human rights with a low health standard, the number of the people infected with HIV and suffering AIDS is high, and Myanmar’s health standard is ranked at 191 out of the 192 UN member countries.

The world knows Myanmar’s health standard and health care, and so do health staff who are shouldering duties in the health field, national races and rural people. Indeed, the stooges with negative views are manufacturing fabrications in this regard. The people understand well that Myanmar does not lag behind other countries in the health sector.

The government is building health infrastructures across the nation including border areas and rural areas, appointing more health staff, and providing medicines and medical equipment. It has constructed a 200-bed hospital each in the 24 special development regions.

It is also taking necessary measures such as upgrading the old hospitals, opening specialist hospitals including 300-bed and 200-bed ones, and installing international level medical equipment in them. As a result, the people’s health standard is improving considerably.

The UN and international organizations have recognized that Myanmar has been able to control some of the common diseases and to remove dangerous positions of some diseases and has been free from some diseases. Now, it is free from smallpox and polio and is able to control diphtheria, trismus, whooping cough, measles, trachoma and blindness. It has been able to prevent highly infectious diseases such as cholera and plague. At the third ministerial world leprosy elimination conference of WHO held in Myanmar in 2003, Myanmar was declared as a nation free from leprosy.

According to the WHO, the outbreak of TB, malaria and HIV/AIDS is on the decrease in Myanmar, less than that in neighbouring countries. According to the figures compiled by UNADIS in 2006, HIV/AIDS occurrence rate in Myanmar was 1.3 per cent, and according to UNDP, 1.2 per cent, less than that in neighbouring countries.

So, it is clear that the spread of the rumour that the outbreak of HIV/AIDS in Myanmar was shockingly alarming was associated with the political instigation. Anti-government groups at home and abroad are putting pressure on international community to cut aids and humanitarian aids to Myanmar, thereby showing their cruelty towards the people.

Myanmar is taking preventive measures against HIV/AIDS at state and division level, district level and township level with the participation of the entire people.

Now, Myanmar has 832 hospitals due to the opening of 201 more hospitals and has upgraded 149 hospitals. It has opened 16 medical institutions such as university of medicine, university of dental medicine, university of pharmacy, university of paramedical sciences, university of nursing, university of community health and traditional medicine university. Myanmar medical experts’ successful separation of conjoined twins, transplant of liver, renal transplant, replanting of broken forearm, and internal level medical science and medical operations reflect Myanmar’s high medical standard.

With better health care, Myanmar people’s lifeexpectancy is getting high. In 2005, the life-spans of rural men and women increased to 60.8 years and 63.3 years, up from 56.2 years, and 60.4 years in 1988. During the same period, the life-spans of urban men and women rose from 59 years and 63.2 years in 1988 to 61.5 years and 65.6 years.

According to the data the WHO released in its Golden Jubilee, Myanmar’s health standard stood in the middle of the list of that of developing countries.

Myanmar is working hard, mobilizing the strength of national doctors and health staff to be able to catch up with other countries in health care. In reality, Myanmar does not lag behind other countries in the health sector. Myanmar people have access to nutritious food and are pursuing the motto “Good health is a great blessing”.