YANGON, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar official media Thursday stressed the need for the entire people to actively participate in anti-AIDS measures, warning that AIDC affects not only the health of people but also the social and economic development.

    The New Light of Myanmar also emphasized in its perspectives that AIDS patients must be treated kindly without any discrimination and stigma.

    "Myanmar people regards AIDS as a disease that is very likely to endanger public health and is fighting it as a national movement," the perspectives said.

    As a project for fighting AIDS and venereal disease, educative talks and accurate diagnosis and effective treatment are being given on a wider scale, it said, adding that systematic measures are being taken in 325 townships to ensure safe blood transfusion.

    Besides, Myanmar is accelerating the momentum of the fight against AIDS in cooperation with the World Health Organization and other UN organizations, it noted.

    Myanmar formed the anti-AIDS Central Committee in 1989 and related work programs were implemented since then.

    Beginning 2000, prevention of HIV virus transmission from mother to child was initiated.

    According to the latest figures, the infection rate of HIV in Myanmar has declined to 0.61 percent in 2009 from 0.94 percent in 2000.

Special Report: World AIDS Day 2009