THE Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will continue supporting the National Tuberculosis Program in its campaign to fight the disease in Myanmar, said a representative from the organisation last week.

Dr Aye Htun, a national consultant with the agency’s Major Infectious Diseases Control Project (MIDCP), made the announcement at a ceremony to mark the donation of a microphone amplifier valued at K1.1 million to the Yangon Divisional Health Office in Thingangyun township on March 1.

JICA had already donated three amplifiers, which are useful at training sessions, seminars and staff meetings dealing with TB control programs.

Dr Hla Myint, the divisional health director at the Yangon Divisional Health Office, received the donation and expressed his thanks to JICA.

“I appreciate receiving such equipment for use at meetings and training sessions, which are held at the office at least seven times a month,” he said.

He said the amplifiers will be used not only for the TB program but for all other health training programs as well.

Ko Aye Than Maung, the project officer at the MIDCP, said plans are underway to distribute books and posters with information about the disease, and books on TB patient care, and to provide counselling services to TB patients during the lead-up to World TB Day 2005, which falls on March 24.