Health ministry to appoint at least one staff member per village to reduce child mortality rate
The Ministry of Health will appoint at least one health worker in each village to reduce the deaths of children under five.
The Director General of the Department of Public Health Dr Saw Lwin Nyein said, “Our department will focus on the reduction of child death under five. Children’s death rate is a problem for the whole country.”
The ministry is preparing for vaccinations against pneumonia beginning January 2016 to prevent lung disease, which contributes to the majority of deaths in children under five.
Dr Saw Lwin Nyein also said that more rural clinics will be set up across the country, with adequate medical equipment and staff.
He also said maternal education programmes would also be conducted alongside providing nutritional foods. He admitted the ministry fails to provide sufficient healthcare services to far-flung areas.
According to UNICEF 2012figures, the death rate of under-five-children is more than 40 thousands each year.
Former student prisoners to monitor 2015 election
The 88 Generation Peace and Open Society will monitor the upcoming 2015 general election through three norms, said Min Ko Naing, a leader of the former student prisoners group.
They will make judgment on the election by assessing the Constitution, the electoral system and restrictions on prominent political forces.
Min Ko Naing said, “Only if these three norms are favourable for the political parties, could we decide further on conditions such as a free and fair election, voter theft and campaign rights.”
The student activist also added that their group will not form a political party, but they will take part in activities inside and outside parliament individually and independently.
“Our activities should not weaken democratic forces and confuse the public.”
Energy projects need supervision to deter detrimental effect on environment: vice president
Energy projects need strict supervision to ensure that they have no detrimental effects on the environment, Vice-president U Nyan Tun said on May 6 at a meeting organized by the National Energy Management Committee.
The Vice-president spoke of three energy projects at the national level, saying Myanmar is working with the Asian Development Bank, the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the World Bank Group to satisfy the country’s energy and electricity needs in the future.
Myanmar, Yunnan Province to cooperate in peace and stability in border areas
President U Thein Sein received a delegation led by Mr Chen Hao, Governor of Yunnan Province of the People’s Republic of China at the Credentials Hall of the Presidential Palace, here, on May 6.
They discussed bilateral co-operation in peace and stability in border areas between the two countries, combating narcotics and human trafficking, trade promotion and rule of law.
Also present at the hall were union ministers U Wunna Maung Lwin, U Soe Thane, U Win Myint, Dr Kan Zaw and U Ye Htut and officials.
Next parliamentarian session scheduled to discuss constitution amendment bill, national education bill, and interfaith bill
The 12th session of parliament will resume on May 11 and is scheduled to discuss bills on constitutional amendment, national education and interfaith.
U Aye Mauk, secretary of the implementing committee on constitutional amendment, said it is 90 percent sure that it will discuss the constitutional amendment bill in the upcoming parliament session.
The Pyithu Hluttaw has handed over the bill on national education law to the Amyotha Hluttaw with 131 points for amendment.
The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw has approved 159 laws during its first term so far.
Voter lists in 8 townships of Nay Pyi Taw council to be announced
The eligible voter lists in eight townships under the Nay Pyi Taw council will be announced this month.
U Aung Htet Kyaw, chairman of the Nay Pyi Taw Election sub-Commission Office, said, “We have collected voter lists in our council area on April, and are waiting for the order of the Union Election Commission for the announcement.”
The sub-commission collected the voter list from December 2014 to 2015 April.
Efforts being made for constitutional amendment before election, says Thura U Shwe Mann
Speaker of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw and Pyithu Hluttaw Thura U Shwe Mann said all the relevant bodies are making attempts for the amendment of the constitution prior to the upcoming election.
Thura U Shwe Mann, however, said some paragraphs should be amended to be able to hold a referendum on the constitution.
During his interview with the Voice of America, he said despite many difficulties at each phase, all the stakeholders are making efforts for constitutional amendment.
Some parliamentarians said the discussion on charter amendment has been delayed due to waiting for the results of the six-party talks among the government, the military, the two speakers of parliament, the ethnic parties’ representative and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
This Article first appeared in the May 14, 2015 edition of Mizzima Weekly.
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