On 12 August, the United Nations in Myanmar and partners marked International Youth Day, amplifying the voices of young people across the country. In a country where a young generation is navigating hardships and uncertainty with remarkable resilience, this year’s theme “different contexts, common aspirations” is more than a slogan — it is a testament to their unwavering hope for a better future."Our lives may differ, but our aspirations for better access to opportunities and safe spaces are the same," shared *Palae, a youth delegate from Kayin State.Amid protracted crises and economic contraction, young people are showing that despite their quiet struggles and daily challenges, they share a common hope for a future built on dignity, safety, and the opportunities they deserve. Many young people, including a young person from Chin State shared that the youth want a future where they are heard, respected and given the chance to contribute toward building a peaceful and resilient community. The UN Myanmar Inter-Agency Youth Theme Group (YTG), continues to work to connect the realities of Myanmar’s youth with global solidarity. The YTG provides dedicated spaces for the young people where they can engage directly with the UN.“We need our voices to be heard. But we also need to be listened to by our communities, decision-makers, and elders. For donors, NGOs, and the UN, we need to be recognized not just on paper, but through concrete actions at the field level”, said representatives from the LGBTQIA+ and persons with disabilities (PWDs) communities.International Youth Day was an opportunity for many young people to participate and engage in conversations with key stakeholders from the UN and partners.Youth voices on livelihoods, constraints, and migrationYoung people of Myanmar today increasingly face difficulties in securing employment. Many feel forced to migrate to find work — a journey that is often unsafe and undocumented, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and harsh working conditions.A group of youth expressed concerns about the need for accessible digital and language skills training for both in-school and out-of-school youth to help bridge the opportunity gap. They urge decision-makers and the donor community to support community learning centers in rural and urban areas so young people can build sustainable careers and migrate safely if they choose to do so.For *Pwint Phyu, who is currently with the Myanmar Independent Living Initiative (MILI), the struggle of finding a job is compounded. She shared the barriers faced by persons with disabilities (PWDs) and how often they are confined to working within their own circles due to deep-seated misconceptions about their abilities. She recalled, “Employers just simply assume that I am incapable and deny me employment, even though I am fully qualified.” She is now calling for a shift toward inclusion that recognizes the skills and potential of PWDs.Youth voices on mental healthWhile young people’s lives may appear ordinary on the surface, many carry invisible struggles. Like youth around the world, young people in Myanmar desire leisure, social connection, hope, and strong support from their families and communities, but these needs remain fragmented under current circumstances.Youth representatives described their mental health challenges as a direct consequence of instability, comparing the situation of them to "fish out of water" in an environment that no longer sustains them.Shared visions for a better tomorrow for Myanmar’s youthIn the hopes of a better tomorrow, the YTG partners with youth networks across Myanmar, actively advocating for and offering the support they need so their collective aspirations are realized.Their personal journeys reveal the daily pressures young people face, and their voices shed light on the diverse realities they go through across Myanmar. Even so, they continue to create, innovate, and aspire toward a dignified, safe future and better opportunities, regardless of where they come from.Perhaps the clearest call of the day came from a youth delegate from Chin who urged the international community not simply to listen to Myanmar's young people but to stand with them: “Our message to the world is simple: Do not forget the youth of Myanmar. We do not ask for sympathy. We ask for partnership. Stand with us as we work to build a peaceful, inclusive, and prosperous future.”*Name changed for privacy. The Youth Theme Group is a United Nations interagency coordination platform, chaired and led by UNFPA.

YANGON, Myanmar — For many people living with chronic hepatitis C in Myanmar, that message is becoming a reality. Not only hepatitis C treatment has now become increasingly accessible, but also it can be cured for most people in just 12-24 weeks. However, for those living with chronic hepatitis B, the path to treatment remains far more difficult.One mother recalls the moment her life changed.She was diagnosed with hepatitis B in 2018 during a blood test while pregnant. At the time, treatment was out of reach.“We could not afford it, and I was living in a village far from the city,” she said. “I did not know where to seek help.”Without nearby services and with limited financial means, she delayed care for years. It was only recently, after being referred to by a health worker, that she reached a clinic offering free treatment.“I was terrified when I first learned I had hepatitis B,” she said. “My only concern was my children.”She feared passing the virus to them, but fortunately, they were not infected. Now in her second month of treatment, she feels a renewed sense of hope. “I am happy now. I am getting treatment, and my children are safe,” she said, urging other pregnant women to get tested and seek care early.While her story reflects progress, it also highlights the barriers many hepatitis B patients continue to face.At the local clinic, Dr Yi explains the stark differences between hepatitis B and C. “Hepatitis B is more complex,” the healthcare provider said. “It is more expensive and requires longer-term treatment.”Unlike hepatitis C, which can often be cured within three months, hepatitis B requires ongoing monitoring and care. This complexity has also affected service availability.“There are more organizations supporting hepatitis C treatment,” the provider noted. “For hepatitis B, services are limited.”Cost remains one of the biggest challenges. Patients often need multiple tests, including viral load testing and liver assessments, which can be expensive.“Some cannot afford the initial tests, and others struggle with the cost of monthly medication,” the provider said.Distance and access further complicate care. Many patients travel from remote areas, facing high transportation costs and, in some cases, movement restrictions.“Even when we provide support, not all patients can come,” the provider added.Stigma is another barrier. Some patients avoid seeking care for fear of discrimination or being judged by their peers, partners, families and communities.Despite these challenges, success stories in Myanmar show what is possible.Among the many people with chronic hepatitis C who completed a three-month course of treatment and got cured, one woman from Myanmar recalls her experience on World Hepatitis Day. “I followed the doctor’s instructions because I wanted to get rid of the virus,” she said. “Now I am very happy because I know I will no longer transmit it to others, especially my children.”Their message is simple: early testing and treatment can save lives across generations.Across these experiences, one reality is clear. While hepatitis C treatment has advanced significantly in Myanmar, for those with chronic hepatitis B, they continue to face significant financial, geographic, and systemic barriers.Addressing these gaps requires stronger investment and expanded services.“We need more support to provide hepatitis B diagnosis and treatment without barriers,” Dr Khin, a public health expert working in hepatitis for many years in Myanmar, said. “Decentralizing services and training more health workers would help us reach more patients.”On World Hepatitis Day, these real-world human stories from Myanmar highlight both progress and the long road ahead in response to viral hepatitis.WHO continues to support the scale-up of the hepatitis response in Myanmar by working closely with local stakeholders to strengthen evidence-informed prevention, testing, treatment, and care services. Provision of treatment for people living with chronic hepatitis B needs urgent attention as hepatitis B and C are significant contributors to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma – all preventable with the diagnostic and therapeutic commodities currently available. Eliminating mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of hepatitis B is also a priority by leveraging the existing focus on dual EMTCT of HIV and Syphilis towards triple EMTCT, by integrating hepatitis B into this fold.  Ensuring access to timely and affordable care, for hepatitis B and C, will be critical to protecting families, reducing transmission, and moving closer to eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat in Myanmar and elsewhere. *This story was originally published on the WHO website.

[dashboard:where_we_work]YANGON, Myanmar — In the densely populated industrial township of Hlaing Thar Yar, Yangon, tuberculosis (TB) continues to spread quietly among communities where crowded living conditions and high mobility increase the risk of transmission.For many residents, daily life is shaped by long working hours, financial pressure, and limited access to health care. In this environment, even a persistent cough can go unchecked until the disease progresses.For U Maung Si, 72, early intervention made a critical difference.“I began experiencing a persistent cough,” he said. “A health volunteer encouraged me to get checked, and I was supported to go to a clinic for an X-ray screening.”The results revealed a small lesion in his lungs, and he was diagnosed early and started treatment promptly.“I was very worried I might transmit the disease to my family,” he said. “But I feel relieved and happy that I did not pass it on.”   Despite such successes, health providers say that fragmented service delivery remains a major challenge. Dr Phyo Thiha Tun, who works at a TB clinic receiving referrals from across the township, says many patients are lost along the referral pathway.“We screen suspected patients here, send sputum samples to another facility, and then refer confirmed cases to the township TB center for treatment initiation,” he said. “During these steps, some patients are lost to follow-up.”In Hlaing Thar Yar, where many residents are migrant factory workers, the risk of TB transmission is heightened.“Overcrowded living conditions make TB transmission very easy. When we lose track of suspected TB patients during the referral process, the risk of further transmission in the community becomes even higher.”   Caption: U Maung Si and other TB patients at the local TB clinic in Hlaing Tar Yar Township. Photo: © WHO MyanmarFor TB treatment, returning for follow-up or completing referrals is important. Financial hardship is a key reason why patients are lost to follow-up. Another is difficulty to take time off to complete visits to the clinic as it may jeopardize their income. In many cases, patients also require a family member or companion to accompany them, doubling the time away from work and resulting in additional loss of daily income for already vulnerable households.“Most of our patients are migrant workers,” Dr Phyo explained. “They struggle with transport costs and cannot always afford repeated visits.”“Even when we provide travel assistance, rising transport costs make it insufficient,” he added.As a result, a number of patients are lost during referral — a gap that directly affects treatment success.   Community health volunteers play a critical role in bridging these gaps and connecting communities with essential TB services.“I am San Thida, a community health volunteer with MHAA,” she said. “We identify suspected TB patients, raise awareness, and support them to access diagnosis and treatment.”Through community outreach, awareness of TB has improved, and more people are now self-referring for care.“When we find suspected cases, we refer them to free TB clinics,” she said. “We also support transport costs during treatment, recognizing that travel expenses can be a significant barrier for patients who already face financial hardship and risk losing income when seeking care.”However, she noted that financial barriers remain a major challenge for many families. Across interviews, one message emerges clearly: TB control in high-risk areas depends not only on effective diagnosis and treatment, but also on ensuring that services are accessible and designed around the realities faced by patients. Dr Phyo believes a more integrated model could transform outcomes.“If mass screening and a one-stop TB service could be established in high-risk areas, it would significantly improve early detection and treatment success,” he said.At present, patients often move between multiple facilities, from screening to laboratory testing to treatment initiation.“This multi-step process sometimes leads to loss of patients during referral,” he explained. “A one-stop service would reduce these gaps.”These system gaps are further compounded by the realities many patients face. For providers and community workers alike, TB is not only a medical challenge, but also a systems issue shaped by mobility, poverty, and barriers to access.“Many patients are migrant workers who travel back to their hometowns,” Dr Phyo said. “Without continuity of care, they may unknowingly transmit TB further.”In this context, strengthening integrated, locally accessible services is not only critical for improving individual treatment outcomes, but it is also essential for reducing transmission across communities and regions. What is unfolding in Hlaing Thar Yar is not an isolated challenge; it reflects a broader reality in high-burden, high-mobility settings where fragmented health systems continue to hinder effective TB control.For patients navigating multiple referrals, long travel distances, and financial constraints, gaps in the system can mean the difference between completing treatment and being lost to follow-up.“A one-stop service would reduce these gaps and help us keep patients in care,” Dr Phyo said. “It would make diagnosis and treatment much more accessible for those who need it most.”In communities where TB can spread easily but access to care remains limited, strengthening integrated, patient-centered services is essential—not only to improve outcomes for individuals, but also to break the chain of transmission.As Dr Phyo emphasizes, “If we can bring services together and closer to the community, we can detect TB earlier, treat it effectively, and prevent it from spreading further.”In the effort to end TB, ensuring that every patient can access timely diagnosis and treatment, and is not lost follow-up may be the most critical step of all. *This story was originally published on the WHO website on 8 July 2026.

Most evenings, Ma Char stands over a large wok balanced on a small wood-fired stove, frying bright yellow chickpea tofu. It’s a Myanmar street food staple that she prepares as fritters – crispy on the outside and soft in the middle – or fried into thin, crispy, bubbled sheets. The tofu crackles and hisses while her children pack the finished products, ready to sell at the next day’s markets. The smoke settles into the walls of their house, and into their hair and clothes. “Frying tofu releases a strong smell as we produce hundreds of packages,” she says, with a laugh. “But we love the smell and the sound. It is what supports our family’s survival here.”In 2023, conflict forced Ma Char and her family to leave their village in Kachin State, loading what they could onto motorbikes. She and her husband, a pastor, now share a rented house in town far from home with their extended family of 15, including their biological children, three they have adopted, and elderly grandparents. After accessing cash assistance through a joint UN Women and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) project funded by the Government of France, she bought better cooking tools and ingredients, increased production, reached new customers, and hired two other displaced women from the community to help. Ma Char has built a steady income stream that covers school fees, food and rent, and created some stability for her family in an unfamiliar place."I feel grateful to be able to support not only my family but also the women around me," she says. Myanmar's crisis is among the most underfunded humanitarian emergencies in the world. In 2026, 3.7 million people are displaced, and more than half are women and girls. With men frequently absent – they may be killed in conflict or stay behind in conflict-affected villages to protect land and property – women are left as primary caregivers and breadwinners, often with fewer assets, less access to markets and less financial security. UN Women and UNFPA have combined economic empowerment, including livelihoods support, business skills and flexible cash assistance, with life-saving protection services including gender-based violence support and safe referral pathways. More than 500 women have received cash assistance so far and the project reflects that in crisis settings, women's economic recovery and their safety cannot be addressed in isolation. Naw Yin Mwae and her family also fled their village in 2023. “Our area lost its peace and quiet,” she says. “Fighting would break out, then settle down – again and again.” Initially, her husband found work on a chicken farm, but his income could not cover the needs of their family of nine, so she returned to bamboo trading, a business she had run successfully for years in her home village. But restarting required loans, and with unpredictable bamboo prices and transport fees at checkpoints, she was soon trapped in debt. Flexible cash assistance helped her clear those debts, cover her family’s rent, school fees and healthcare, and begin employing her neighbours.Neither Naw Yin Mwae nor Ma Char knows when they will be able to go home, but both draw strength from knowing they are keeping their families together, safe and fed, while supporting others beyond their own households.Ma Char says she feels most proud on the days when she has paid the bills, put food on the table, and helped support other women in the community. Her ambition is to establish a “Bhamo Family restaurant”, serving the sour noodles and fried dumplings of her home village. Her plan is gradually taking shape alongside the sizzling wok and the sweet pungent smoke that curls through the house each evening, signalling that tomorrow, at least, is taken care of. *This story was originally published on the UN Women Asia and the Pacific website on 4 June 2026.