Fostering sustainable multisectoral partnerships for health 30.11.2022

Training of worksite volunteers on malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) by UMFCCI in Mawlamyine in June 2022. Photo: UMFCCI

As Myanmar steps up efforts to eliminate malaria, the non-health private sector is becoming a crucial partner in expanding efforts for the last mile. Under the Global Fund RAI3E grant, the Asia Regional Health Cluster (ARHC) has been closely working with the private sector to advocate for private sector engagement in malaria elimination. 

The Republic of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) has been fostering strong linkages between the public health and private business sectors through advocacy, engagement and facilitation. It includes advocacy on how the private sector can support health objectives, showcase examples and case studies from other settings, and bring together the two sectors and facilitate their coordination and collaboration.

With the support from the Global Fund grant, UMFCCI is working for the private sector engagement policy for malaria, engaging with medium and large size enterprises for private sector case management through worksite Integrated Community Malaria Volunteers (ICMV) and utilizing the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) supply chain towards malaria elimination in Myanmar.

UMFCCI’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Unit is spearheading a pilot public–private partnership project to engage the private sector and leverage their resources and expertise towards malaria elimination in Mon State, Myanmar.

The UMFCCI-CSR Unit is coordinating a public–private partnership to train the worksite ICMVs. They are selected from the workforces of corporates and businesses operating in malaria-risk areas. To date, the project has trained more than 40 volunteers across four townships in Mon State. These volunteers return to their workplaces – which include high-risk worksites such as rubber plantations and stone quarries, as well as worksites employing mobile migrant populations, such as factories, fisheries and salt production sites – and extend the coverage of malaria control and elimination activities.

“We are very proud and happy to provide worksite ICMVs. Both the business and surrounding communities can benefit from their activities,” says U Aung, a rubber plantation owner in Paung Township.

As a result of the pilot project, partner companies in the area of fast-moving consumer goods now carry essential malaria and other commodities to health facilities, reducing the risk of stockouts while simultaneously reducing expenses. The UMFCCI-CSR Unit coordinates and facilitates the pick-up and delivery of commodities, creating a sustainable and effective delivery modality that can fulfil both regular and emergency deliveries.

Since December 2021, partner companies have carried over 10 tons of malaria and other medical commodities requested by Mon State’s Vector-borne Diseases Control (VBDC) Programme. Deliveries are fulfilled only a few days after the request, and companies carry the commodities free of charge as part of their corporate social responsibility commitments.

The private sector is becoming a crucial partner in Mon State’s fight against malaria. The successes and lessons learned here can be replicated across Myanmar and the Greater Mekong Subregion as the world moves ever closer towards malaria elimination.