• The five-year strategic plan for reproductive health has been developed through a consultative process and launched in the second week of July [2014]. Regional disparities and inequalities will be addressed through:
  • Review of policies on deployment and retention of service providers for hard-to-reach areas
  • Ensure reproductive health commodity security as Myanmar is supported by Global RHCS
  • Develop, print and disseminate [Reproductive Health/Birth Spacing] IEC materials for diverse populations and in different dialects, [at varying] literacy levels
  • To conduct outreach activities using specific approaches for hard-to-reach and marginalized population sub-groups

• A National Implementation Plan to meet commitments to FP2020 which will complement the strategic plan for reproductive health is being developed through a consultative process with NGOs and UN agencies [(These NGOs also provide services in the private sector)]. The goal of the implementation plan to meet FP2020 commitments is to contribute to:
  • improved reproductive health of women, men, and adolescents and
  • reduce maternal and infant mortality and morbidity through scaling up the provision of quality integrated [Birth Spacing] services.

• In collaboration with UNFPA, Country Office training is planned in 2014-2015 for:
  1. Proper warehousing, distribution, inventory control system
  2. Supply chain management system
  3. Projection of required contraceptive commodities – by each township (from 2016 - 2017)

• A Facility Assessment for Reproductive Health Commodities and Services has been conducted nationwide with UNFPA support in 2014; the draft report is expected at the end of August 2014. These assessments will be conducted annually and will assist in the monitoring of activities to strengthen quality of care.

• The Logistics Management Information System (LMIS) is being set up with assistance from UNFPA Country Office. Completed activities in 2014 include:
  1. Training on SOP for RHLMIS: Master trainers, multiplier training
  2. Pilot in 12 townships in four states/regions
  3. Planned activities 2014-2015
  4. Continue training to cover all townships in four states/regions
  5. Training of central and state/regional master trainers on forecasting, procurement
  6. Multiplier training to basic health staff on strengthening of supply chain management systems in pilot 12 townships
  7. Web-based LMIS

• Training on long acting methods, namely IUD has been accomplished for the state/regional obstetricians and gynecologists and will be carried out for township medical officers in a phased manner. In collaboration with PSI, one of the INGOs working for family planning, trainings on Intra dermal Implant insertion were conducted for specialists ObGy in a PPP (Private Public Partnership) approach. To create demand, the pamphlet on IUD for clients has been updated and a pamphlet on postpartum family planning and implants will be developed. Training on interpersonal communication and counseling for doctors, nurses and midwives in the public sector will include these methods.

The Government of Myanmar provided new information on its progress in April 2017.  Read the revised update here.

In July 2016, the Government of Myanmar shared an update on progress in achieving its policy, financial and program and service delivery commitments to FP2020.

The government reports performing the following activities in support of its program and service delivery commitment:

• In an effort to implementing a monitoring system to strengthen quality of care, the government of Myanmar agreed to—during the discussion for nationwide Implant training—the Lead FP Working Committee agreed to use a post training assessment form and quality control checklist with technical support from JHPIEGO and PSI as part of monitoring effectiveness. An assessment study on implant removal will also be conducted by MOHS and JHPIEGO to highlight the quality of care in service provision.
• Myanmar is working continuously on strengthening its logistics management information system to ensure reproductive health commodity security. Since 2014, RH Commodity Logistic System was being implemented in 12 townships. In 2016, with technical support from JSI and financial support from UNFPA, 55 townships under Shan (South) and Mandalay regions are having the LMIS expanded. To cover all other State/ Region, The funding gap to cover all other states and regions still exists and is under the negotiation of the MOHS with 3MDG fund.
• Nationwide Implant Training will be provided to health care providers in public in 2016 through a public-private partnership approach. The Total Market Approach for FP is being conducted by PATH in collaboration with MOHS and UNFPA. Introduction of Sayana Press in Myanmar is still going on in collaboration with UNFPA and other private partners. UNFPA will be supplying 0.8 million doses of Sayana Press in 2016 and, with the MOH’s lead to get pre-registration waiver, Sayana Press initiation program begin in the second quarter of 2016. This will increase additional users of modern method of contraception.
• To improve the monitoring system of family planning, the capacity building of M&E officers was carried out with the support of the Track 20 team and Consensus Building Workshops were conducted since last year to get consensus among stakeholders and discuss data utilization, data monitoring, private sector involvement, and other monitoring issues.

• The Government of Myanmar committed USD $3.27 million for the purchase of contraceptives during the 2013 to 2014 financial period.

• The Government of Myanmar allotted increased health budget as 368.66 billion kyats in 2012-2013, 528.57 billion kyats in 2013-2014 and 652.74 billion kyats in 2014-2015. To reduce unmet need for family planning, there was increased purchasing of contraceptive commodities with government health budget every fiscal year.

• With an increased government health budget, it is prominently found that resource allocation for family planning increased in state budgets. Since the budgets for family planning rose from USD $1.29 million to USD $3.27 million, the Ministry of Health has been purchasing 1.3 million vials of injection depo and 1.25 million cycles of oral contraceptive pills in 2012-2013 and 1.5 million vials of injection depo and 6 million cycles of oral contraceptive pills in 2013-2014.

The Government of Myanmar provided new information on its progress in April 2017.  Read the revised update here.

In July 2016, the Government of Myanmar shared an update on progress in achieving its policy, financial and program and service delivery commitments to FP2020.

The government reports performing the following activities in support of its financial commitment:

• During the 2015-2016 budget year, the Ministry of Health could procure US $0.56 million worth of contraceptives and spent US $2.8 million for all logistics of maternal and reproductive health (records, registers, and maternal medicines).
• According to the Government of Nepal’s budget for 2015-2016, the total health budget was 753.001 billion kyats.
• The Ministry committed to scaling up the reproductive health commodity logistics system to two states and regions out of 17 states and regions in this year and then nationally through harmonizing it into the national system.
• To improve the monitoring system of family planning, capacity building of M&E officers from Myanmar was carried out with the support of Track 20 team and Consensus Building Workshops were conducted since last year with all FP stakeholders.

• Village Health Volunteers and Auxiliary Midwives provide information to the community on contraceptives and where supplies can be obtained. In the updated guideline for Auxiliary Midwives, they will be dispensing oral contraceptive pills and condoms under the supervision of the Midwives.

• Future plans include PPIUD insertion by midwives under the supervision of the Township Medical Officer in townships that have received training on postpartum family planning and supplies and equipment are in place.

• The Government of Myanmar committed to expanding the forum of family planning under the umbrella of the Health Sector Coordinating Committee and creating a Lead Working Group on Family Planning as a branch of the Reproductive, Maternal Newborn and Child Health Technical and Strategy Group. It was formed and the 1st meeting was held on 31st July 2014.

The Government of Myanmar provided new information on its progress in April 2017.  Read the revised update here.

In July 2016, the Government of Myanmar shared an update on progress in achieving its policy, financial and program and service delivery commitments to FP2020.

The government reports performing the following activities in support of its policy and political commitment:

• In 2016, Myanmar has made some progress in the policy environment for providing clinical contraceptive methods by trained and skilled nurses and volunteered, such as the commitment for task shifting to Auxiliary Midwives (AMW) in FP services; some methods of family planning like OC pills and condom can be provided by AMW. Long-term methods of family planning (particularly, implant) training is scheduled to start in July 2016 for the public sector, with a nationwide roll out planned for 2016-2017 with the support of UNFPA, PSI, Jhpiego and ObGy Society/ MMA. There will be trainings of health care providers to give services targeted to peri-urban poor in the Yangon region (reaching 34 townships), in the Mandalay region (23 townships), and in the Magway region (25 townships), where maternal mortality is high and unmet need is high.
• Myanmar has developed a five-year strategic plan for reproductive health and developed a Costed Implementation Plan (CIP) in 2014 to meet the commitment on Family Planning 2020. All implementing partners are providing FP services according to the strategies and guidance of that plan, but the government plans on revisiting the CIP this year 2016 to explore the gaps in family planning.
• Lead Working Group on Family Planning and Lead Working Group on RH are being conducted quarterly in alignment with the Reproductive Health Technical Working Committee meetings and any recommendations are discussed at the Maternal Newborn and Child Health Technical Strategic Group. In addition, the FP commodity meeting and coordination meetings of the nationwide training effort are also occasionally conducted occasionally.