Drug use and HIV/AIDS in Burma.

This paper investigates the correlation between drug abuse and the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Burma. During the military takeover the countrys economy deteriorated and human rights abuses spread. The health status of the Burmese people was affected. Health care access was limited leading to increased maternal and child mortality. The growing use of heroin and the increase in the incidence of HIV/AIDS have further jeopardized the health of the people. Needle sharing mainly caused high HIV infection rates among drug users using injection needles. Young Burmese internal migrants who were working in the jade and ruby mines in Shan or Kachin states played a part in the transmission of HIV across the country. Failure of the Burmese junta to deal effectively with the problems of drugs and HIV/AIDS has threatened the health of the people living in Burma and neighboring countries.