17 December 2010 — The Three Diseases Fund (3DF) held its 2010 Annual Review Meeting and Market Place on 16 and 17 December, where more than 200 participants from international and local NGOs and UN partner agencies, along with senior representatives from the Ministry of Health and donor countries, shared the outcomes of their programme activities.

The Annual Review Meeting and Market Place is a unique event where partners funded by 3DF display their work in stalls, similar to a market, and discuss their successes and lessons learnt. The success of the Market Place in 2009 inspired an even bigger event in 2010 with videos, presentations and interactive displays in 35 booths.

With a commitment of US$125 million dollar over five years, the fund is the biggest single pooled fund in the health sector in Myanmar. Three series of grants were disbursed to 33 implementing partners for 53 projects since the beginning of the project, reaching out to those most-at-risk of TB, malaria and HIV and AIDS in all States and Divisions.

“I would like to congratulate our implementing partners on all their good work in delivering essential health services to those most in need in Myanmar ”, said Philippe Allen, the 2010 Chair of the Fund Board and representative of Australia in the Donor Consortium.

Donors are now planning a second phase of the fund with a greater focus on maternal and child health.

The design mission team visited Myanmar during December to meet with partners to assess the role and scope of the next phase of funding and the strategic planning of the next phase of 3DF has started.

“3DF made a real difference inside Myanmar and we are confident that we can build on this achievement in the Maternal and Child Health sector”, Mr. Allen said.

Since 2007, a total of 12,874 people living with HIV were provided with antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 1.1 million cases of malaria were treated. From January to June 2010, almost 13 million condoms have been distributed and over 1.5 million needles and syringes were distributed by partners funded by 3DF. 61 people are currently being treated for MDR-TB, a type of TB that is resistant to the usual TB treatment. This treatment was not available before 3DF funding. The success of the fund has encouraged donors to continue their support of health programmes in Myanmar.