Two more died of H1N1 at YGH

The Ministry of Health encourages people to wear masks when they go outside.

Yangon July 26

Two newly warded patients of Yangon General Hospital-YGH died of H1N1 today, admit fears of the infection of the seasonal flu that has already claimed one life, a young boy in Chin State.

“They were new arrivals, and not the two who have been already undergone treatment at the hospital. Post-mortem result showed they were (H1N1) positive,” said YGH Medical Superintendent Dr Aye Ko Ko, adding, the patients died within a few hours after they had arrived at the hospital.

One of them was a pregnant woman from Bago Region, 50 miles northeast of Yangon. 

The two already receiving treatment at YGH are a 35-year-old man of Yangon and a 35-year-old woman of Ayeyawady Region east of Yangon. The woman showing flu like symptoms was transferred to YGH from the general hospital in Pathein, the regional capital, on 19 July. They are under intense care as their condition is critical.

“H1N1 is strong seasonal flu and has no risk of fatality if treated within 48 hours,” said deputy director- general of Public Health Department Dr Than Tun Aung.“It broke out in Myanmar in2009, and it has occurred since then annually. There were hundreds of cases in some years and ten cases in some years. It is not avian fl u or swine fl u but strong seasonal influenza,” he told the reporters.

“In previous years, there was no death. It is communicable disease, and there is still no effective vaccine and treatment. But, the virus can be prevented. The fatality is just one in 10,000 people,” he said.

H1N1 flu symptoms are the same as seasonal flu, including cough, fever, sore throat, stuffy or runny nose, body ache, headache, chills and fatigue. The Ministry of Health has encouraged people to wear masks and wash their hands frequently, cover mouth in coughing and sneezing, and avoid catching cold and crowded places.

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Price of shrimp paste up in domestic market due to high demand of China, Thailand

Blocks of shrimp paste seen at wholesale market.

Yangon June 27

Taking a break in fishery sector in the monsoon season, lesser amount of catching marine creatures and high demand of foreign customers pull up the prices of shrimp paste, said fishermen from the beach of Bogale Township.

Fishermen from delta area in Ayeyawady Region and those from the maritime fishery businesses suspend their operation in the rainy season and resume their tasks in September and October yearly. Due to taking a break of industry, production of shrimp paste, dried fish and dried prawn decline but their prices go up.

This year, high demand for shrimp paste comes from China and Thailand. As such, prices of shrimp paste are on the increase at the domestic market. Shrimp paste was sold at K350-K500 per viss last monsoon compared K1,000-K3,000 per viss this monsoon while price of shrimp paste reaches K3,000-K4,000 per viss in the upper Myanmar market. 

Dried fish and prawn can be supplied from prawn farms. So, volume of catching fish and prawn at the sea is on the decrease due to practising no-fishing season in the rainy season.

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Hospital data shows increasing cancer patients in Myanmar

Yangon People’s Hospital

Yangon June 27

Yangon People’s Hospital has seen a significant increase in cancer patients over the past two years. 

According to the records of the hospital, it received over 9,000 cancer patients each in 2015 and 2016. In 2015, most of the patients were suffering from breast cancer and colon cancer. And last year, most of the patients were suffering from colon cancer and cervix cancer.

“Consumption of foodstuffs treated with chemicals and chemical dyes, the changing life styles, as well as drinking and smoking are some of the major causes of cancer,” said an official of the hospital.

According to statistics of World Health Organization (WHO), Myanmar is one of the ten countries with highest cancer prevalence. Last year, the government allocated a fund of Ks-500 million for treatment of cancer patients at Yangon Hospital.

A new cancer ward in the hospital will be completed in October and is planned to be equipped with German-made advanced cancer diagnosis and treatment devices.

The new cancer ward is a fivestorey building, covering an area of 42,072 feet. At present, radiation treatment for cancer sufferers is also provided with linear accelerators at government-run hospitals in Nay Pyi Taw, Mandalay and Taunggyi apart from Yangon.

Yangon People’s Hospital provides nine basic medicines for free for cancer patients and also provides free special medication for needy patients. From January to April this year, the hospital received over 2,000 cancer patients.

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Traditional dressing style show to be held on Myanmar Women’s Day

A festive occasion seen in the previous Myanmar Women’s Day.

Yangon June 27

In honour of Myanmar Women’s Day, a traditional dressing style show will be held at the National Theatre in Yangon from June 29 to 30, in conjunction with an entertainment program.

Myanmar actresses will wear traditional clothes. It also includes entertainment program by famous singers and a play created by director Ko Zaw (Dawn).

An organizer said: “The event will mainly contain entertainment program for women as it honours Myanmar Women Day. I hope that the program will give audiences full satisfactions.”

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Railway sections being upgraded with help of international organizations

Yangon June 26

Five important railway sections are being upgraded in the country with the help of the international organizations during the term of the current government, according to Union Minister U Thant Zin Maung for Transport and Communications.

The important railway sections namely Yangon-Mandalay railway section, Yangon-Mawlamyine railway section, Yangon-Myitkyina railway section, Yangon-Pyi railway section and Yangon circular rail line are being repaired with the assistance of the Asia Development Bank(ADB) and Japan International Cooperation Agency(JICA).

Yangon-Mandalay railway section will be upgraded for trains to run at a speed of 100 kilometres per hour with the help of JICA. And negotiations have been made with Japan to get a loan of US$-2.4 billion. Moreover, Yangon-Mawlamyine railway section has been repaired till Taungsun region and it is slated for completion of the upgrading work by 2018. After upgrading the rail road, it will only take about 6 hours 30 minutes to reach from Yangon to Mawlamyine.

Similarly, management works along Yangon circular rail road will be carried out with a loan of US$-207 million from Japan. Repairing of rail line, construction of overpasses and railway fencing

will be undertaken with the budget of the ministry.

“Till now, the connection of rail lines from Hlawga to the Yangon Station has been finished. Experts frommADB will make a study tour on Yangon-Pyi railway section on 26 this month which was famous in colonial era,” said the minister.

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Air-conditioned buses to operate in downtown Yangon

                A model taking photo in front of newly-arrived air-conditioned buses.

Yangon May 16

One hundred units of buses that have recently arrived in Yangon will be put into service in YBS No.56 Bus Line, according to Yangon Region Transport Authority (YRTA). 

The buses are imported by Omini Focus Co. Previously, the No. 56 Bus Line was operated by Aero Star Co which also operated both No. 56 and No. 57 bus lines. And now,Omini Focus Co will operate No. 56 Bus Line.

“Aero Star Co was previously called City Liner Co. It has changed the name. Previously it operated two bus lines, but will now operate only No. 57 Bus Line. And Omini Focus will operate No. 56 Bus Line,” said an official of YRTA.

YBS No. 56 Bus Line operates in downtown from Thakhin Mya Garden to No.50th Street along Bogyoke Street, and from Pazundaung through Merchant Street back to Thakhin Mya Garden. The bus fare is Ks-100 and the new arrivals will be equipped with airconditioners.

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Ferry service between Yangon and Dala to have a new timetable during Thingyan

Yangon March 17

The ferry service between Yangon and Dala will have a new timetable during Thingyan but charge the same price, according to Inland Water Transport.

‘‘Normally the department operates 64 times plying between Pansodan and Dala from 5 am to 9 pm, but during Thingyan, it will only operate 26 times from 6 am to 7 pm’’, said assistant general manager U Thein Myint of Ayeyawady Section of Inland Water Transport.

Currently, the department operates the ferry eight times between Yangon and Kanaungto a day, and during Thingyan, we will only operate six times from 6.30 am to 5 pm,” he said.

The department operates between 6.30 and 6.30 pm 20 times between Wadan and Dala, but during Thingyan, it will only operate eight times between 8 am and 5 pm on three Thingyan days, and 12 times between 7.30 am and 5 pm on Thingyan’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

There are as many as 30,000 commuters daily who use the ferry service between Yangon and Dala whereas around 1,500 commuters use the ferry service between Yangon and Kanaungto, and the ferry service at Wadan caters around 200 commuters daily.

The timetable of road transportation service between Yangon and Kyonemange, Labutta and Bogale will not be changed. Thingyan is the Myanmar New Year Festival and usually falls around mid- April.

The Myawady Daily

Three drones shot down at Shwedagon Pagoda

Photo shows security officers taking photos of a seized drone at the Shwedagon Pagoda.

Yangon February 24

The Shwedagon Pagoda Board of Trustees said it has seized three drones at the pagoda with the use of anti-drone so far.

Since early this year, the board has bought an anti-drone worth Ks-32.2 million for the security of the pagoda.

Flying of drones has been banned at the Shwedagon Pagoda since 2014.

An official of the board said: “We shot down drones fl ying near the Shwedagon Pagoda by using the anti-drone. In the past, we found it difficult to locate drones. Now, we can easily seize them. Currently, drones are allowed to check the gold foil of the pagoda.”

The Myawady Daily

Classic car show on Jan. 28-29

Classic cars line up for a photo with Shwedagon Pagoda in the background.

Yangon January 10

“The classic car show will be held for the second time in Yangon in People’s Square on January 28, 29 with prizes for winners,” said Myanmar Classic Car Club, the organizer of the show.

Over 30 vintage vehicles will be showcased at the show including military jeeps, Cadillac, Morris, Chevrolets. The first classic car show was held in March 2015 where around 30 vintage cars manufactured between 1920s and 1972 were exhibited during the show.

Apart from vintage vehicles, antique collectors can also participate and showcase their collections.

“Myanmar has lost many vintage cars to scrappage and many owners have sold them to China as they can’t incur maintenance costs,” said Myanmar Classic Cars Club.

Myanmar Classic Cars Club is a group of enthusiastic classic car collectors. Myanmar Classic Cars Club was founded in 2010 by classic car lovers and collectors.

Through the show, the club aims to protect and appreciate valuable classic cars and encourage collecting them.

The Myawady Daily

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“Greater Yangon Strategic Plan 2040” being redesigned to adapt current age

Sule Pagoda and historic City Hall seen in the downtown of Yangon.

Yangon November 22-11-2016

Greater Yangon Strategic Plan 2040, which was drawn for the development of Yangon City including reclamation of new satellite townships, is being updated, according to the Japan International Cooperative Agency (JICA).

“The previous plan is different from the new one. Also, more traffic congestions occur in the commercial city daily. Moreover, the State Counsellor asked us to draw the plan in compliance with the current age,” said Mr Keiichiro Nakazawa, country head of the JICA.

The new plan includes the extension of new townships, erection of detours and other necessary infrastructures.

“The project has no transparency. It should not be possible as they prioritizes the northeast to expand the city,” said U Myint Swe, an expert in Civil and Housing Development.

“The extension of new satellite townships involved in the plan should be aimed for the squatters. Although it is a good deed to redesign the project in conformity with the current age, the plans should be released to the public for the transparency,” he said.

The JICA drew up the “Greater Yangon Strategic Plan 2040” in 2012 and released to the public in 2015.

The Myawady Daily

Moving National Library (Yangon) to downtown Yangon gaining momentum

The building will be used as home for National

Library (Yangon).

Yangon November 20

A plan is being implemented to move the National Library (Yangon) to the downtown Yangon where the people will have easy access to reading, said an official of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture on 18 November.

The National Library (Yangon), the prestige of the nation, will be moved to No 608 on Merchant Street in Kyauktada Township, Yangon. At present, the building for the library is being renovated while the layout plan for the library is being prepared.

The building has been handed over by Department of Human Settlement and Housing Development under the Ministry of Construction to the Historical Research and National Library Department on 31 October this year.

The library will provide facilities for readers to search books and information through modern technologies. Moreover, the library will facilitate for child library, proficiency courses, library development activities, doing researches, literary discussions and meetings.

In addition, the building will comprise meeting halls, offices, training halls, research pools, office of Myanmar Librarian Association and office of the Myanmar Historical Commission according to the master plan.

With the aim of contributing  to inspection to the maintenance of the library, a basic course for maintenance of Yangon urban heritages will be conducted at the new venue of the library from 14 to 17 December this year, with the assistance of the Australian Embassy.

The Department of Historical  Research and National Library cooperates with Myanmar Librarian Association, Yangon Urban Heritage Trust, Myanmar Architects Association and Myanmar Engineering Society to move the library to the new place.

The Ministry demands necessary fund for the library maintenance from the government in the 2017-18 fiscal year while partner countries such as France and Italy committed to fund the plan.

The President of Myanmar has given guidance to emerge a library as soon as possible for bringing honour to the nation. If necessary the special fund of the president will allocate the budget to the work process.

Yadanarpon Daily

Electric train service due to operation in December

Yangon November 22

Electric train service will start operating in Yangon in coming December according to the Myanma Railway.

Myanmar’s very first electric train (Right) started its test run through the electric trolley line with the speed of 10 km per hour along the tram way in Wartan strand road. This train arrived to Yangon from Japan last month. The construction of electric posts and facilitators are completed.

"Now, test runs are under way. We are planning to run the electric train in the coming month. The train will be run with reasonable price," said U Tun Aung Thin, general manager of Myanma Railway.

The train service will be launched with three segments. The first phase is from Wartan to Pansodan, the second from Pansondan to Linsadaung and the third from Linsadaung to Puzaungtaun.

Electric train will run ten times per day with three carriages and this scheme has been implementing with the cost of over US$ 3 million.

The Myawady Daily, Page(19)