The United States recognizes the ongoing reform efforts to build
a modern, peaceful, and democratic country and welcomes the
opportunity to deepen engagement with the people of Burma and
their government. Since 2003, USAID programs have addressed HIV,
artemisinin resistant malaria, and multi-drug resistant
tuberculosis (MDR-TB), but sizable challenges remain. Large gaps
in equitable access to quality care in the hands of well-trained
and equipped health care providers persist. Burma has achieved a
marked decline in under-five mortality in recent years; however,
at 62 deaths per 1,000 live births, it has the third highest
rate of under-five deaths in the Asia and Pacific region. Of
these deaths, 47 percent occur in the neonatal period. Maternal
mortality is also high, at over 200 deaths per 100,000 live
births. Burma recently signed UNICEF’s A Promise Renewed pledge
to accelerate progress on maternal, newborn, and child survival.
In addition, Burma has Asia’s highest malaria burden and is
designated a high bur