TREAT-HEP: community-based viral hepatitis testing and treatment project in Yangon, Myanmar

The TREAT-HEP Myanmar project delivers hepatitis C prevention testing and treatment services and hepatitis B testing and vaccination to people who inject drugs and their immediate family/partners through an established community-based clinic in Yangon, Myanmar.

Burnet Institute is collaborating with Myanmar Liver Foundation and other non-governmental organisations to co-design service interventions to ensure the delivery of an innovative and resilient community-based viral hepatitis clinic.

Objective

The project aims to:

1. provide hepatitis C prevention, testing and treatment, and hepatitis B testing and vaccination, to people who inject drugs and their immediate family through a resilient, inclusive community-based care model
2. co-design a viral hepatitis B and C care model and health promotion/education materials
3. evaluate the viral hepatitis service delivery at a community-based clinic in Yangon to:
   1. document the lessons learned in developing and delivering a functioning, resilient, and inclusive viral hepatitis program
   2. assess the effectiveness of engaging people who inject drugs and their immediate families and household members in hepatitis C testing and treatment, and hepatitis B testing, vaccination, and referral for treatment at a community-based clinic.
4. explore how to improve service delivery and sustainability of service delivery in the current context of limited-service delivery in public sector
5. provide capacity building opportunities to local NGO partner staff to upskill in delivering services to people who inject drugs.

Timeline

2022–2025.

Approach

The TREAT-HEP project primarily delivers services to people who inject drugs and their partners/family at our established clinic in Yangon, Myanmar.

The project includes a service evaluation to monitor the services provided, through a prospective observational cohort.

In addition, the project utilises participatory action research methods through co-design workshops to design service delivery modifications to improve services provided, explore ways to increase sustainability and resilience of services, and provide tailored capacity building opportunities to local partner organisations. 

Community impact

The TREAT-HEP project provides services to people who inject drugs, including a needle and syringe program to contribute to preventing new hepatitis C infections, providing hepatitis B vaccination for prevention hepatitis B infections, and providing curative hepatitis C treatment for people who inject drugs in Yangon, Myanmar.

In addition, the project’s co-design model supports delivery of an effective model for community-based organisations to progress towards the goal of reducing viral hepatitis infections in Yangon, Myanmar.

Key statistics (as at 30 June 2023):

• 140 new patients at Burnet clinic 
• 96 started on hepatitis C treatment
• 63 received hepatitis B vaccination.