Gallery: Myanmar: treating HIV, TB, and hepatitis C in Insein clinic, Yangon

Insein clinic is one of 2 MSF clinics in Yangon, where MSF provides treatment for HIV, TB, and Hepatitis C. In 2017, MSF provided care to 13,138 patients with HIV, TB or multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) at the two clinics. 42 patients co-infected with HIV started MDR-TB treatment, 21 patients started extensively drug-resistant TB treatment (as part of the endTB programme, currently 33 patients are on treatment) and team initiated Hepatitis C treatment to 197 HIV positive patients.

Insein clinic is one of two MSF clinics in Yangon, where MSF provides treatment for HIV, TB, and hepatitis C. In 2017, MSF provided care to 13,138 patients with HIV, TB or multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) at the two clinics. 42 patients co-infected with HIV started MDR-TB treatment, 21 patients started extensively drug-resistant TB treatment (as part of the endTB programme, currently 33 patients are on treatment) and the team initiated hepatitis C treatment to 197 HIV-positive patients.

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Kay Thi Soe, 30, from Myammar inside the MSF's Insein clinic in Yangon.

Kay Thi Soe is 30 years and lives in Yangon with her husband. She has been coming to the MSF clinic since 2014 when she tested positive for HIV. In 2016, she discovered that she has MDR-TB. At one point during her treatment course, she was hospitalised for 4 months because her potassium level was too low. She lost a lot of weight, and was afraid that she was going to die. But all the doctors and nurses took care of her and encouraged her to continue with treatment. When we met her, she was one month away from completing treatment for MDR-TB, and was very excited. “The first thing I want to do is tell my friends that I am OK and that treatment works.” She used to organise domestic tours around Myanmar, but hasn't been able to travel because she has to come to the clinic every day. Now she is really looking forward to starting this work again. Her favourite places to take people to are Bagan and Mandalay.

Kay Thi Soe, 30, from Myammar, inside the MSF's Insein clinic in Yangon. Kay Thi Soe lives in Yangon with her husband and has been coming to the MSF clinic since 2014 when she tested positive for HIV. In 2016, she discovered that she has MDR-TB. At one point during her treatment course, she was hospitalised for 4 months because her potassium level was too low. She lost a lot of weight, and was afraid that she was going to die. But the doctors and nurses took care of her and encouraged her to continue with treatment. When we met her, she was one month away from completing treatment for MDR-TB, and was very excited. “The first thing I want to do is tell my friends that I am OK and that treatment works.” She used to organise domestic tours around Myanmar, but hasn't been able to travel because she has to come to the clinic every day. Now she is really looking forward to starting work again.

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Tin Lay, 42, from Myanmar is in the preparation stage for TB treatment at MSF's Insein clinic, Yangon, Myanmar, Feb. 22, 2018.

Tin Lay, 42, from Myanmar is in the preparation stage for TB treatment at MSF's Insein clinic, Yangon, Myanmar, February 2018.

Alessandro Penso/MAPS

A TB patient takes his daily TB medication at MSF's Insein clinic, Yangon, Myanmar, Feb. 22, 2018.

A TB patient takes his daily medication at MSF's Insein clinic.

Alessandro Penso/MAPS

Maung Maung Than, 35, from Myammar inside the MSF's Insein clinic in Yangon.

Maung Maung Than is 35 years old from Thon Sein. In 2017, he was hospitalised due to a motorbike accident near Bagan. At first, he was in a hospital bed near all the other patients. After the results of his blood test came back, the doctors moved him to a far corner away from the other patients. He didn't know what was going on, until the doctor explained to him that he tested positive for HIV. They asked him what he would like to do for treatment, and he said he wanted to come back to Yangon to receive treatment.

At first, he felt very insecure and was shocked because he didn't feel any symptoms of having HIV. He opened up to his friends, and some of them who are also living with HIV, encouraged him to get treatment. They told him that he can live a long life if you take the medications. He had known about MSF clinics because he used to be a bus caller and bike taxi driver, so he came to Insein clinic to get treatment. He's been on treatment now for 9 months, and his condition is stable. This means he only has to come to the clinic every 3 months to pick up his medications, and has an annual check-up with his medical team.

Currently, he lives with his parents, wife, and their 2 children. His wife also has HIV, but he didn't know about her status until after he was diagnosed. She used to take medications in secrecy. One day, she fell and he rushed her to the hospital. It was only then that he discovered her HIV status after the lab tests. At first, he felt very angry. But then, he acknowledges that he does not know whether he has HIV because of the mistakes he made in the past or because of his wife's condition. Now they talk openly and encourage each other to continue treatment. They both receive treatment from MSF's Insein clinic and are both in stable condition.

Maung Maung Than, 35, from Myammar inside the MSF's Insein clinic in Yangon. Maung Maung Than is from Thon Sein and in 2017, was hospitalised due to a motorbike accident near Bagan. At first, he was in a hospital bed near other patients. After the results of his blood test came back, the doctors moved him to a far corner away from the other patients. He didn't know what was going on, until the doctor explained to him that he had tested positive for HIV. At first, he felt very insecure and was shocked because he didn't feel any symptoms of HIV. He opened up to his friends, and some of them who are also living with HIV, encouraged him to get treatment. They told him that he can live a long life if you take the medications. He had known about MSF's clinic because he used to be a bus caller and bike taxi driver, so he came to Insein clinic to get treatment. He's been on treatment now for nine months, and his condition is stable. This means he only has to come to the clinic every 3 months to pick up his medications, and has an annual check-up with his medical team.

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Sandar Win, 36, from Myanmar, with her husband, Htin Paw Lynn, 31, who is HIV positive and receives ART (antiretroviral therapy) at MSF's Insein clinic.

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MSF staff member Nant Poe Ou performs an initial screening of a sputum sample for the presence of mycobacterium tuberculosis at MSF's Insein clinic in Yangon.

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Su Mon Thein, 27, is the head lab technician at Insein clinic. She is in charge of overseeing lab tests and results, stock inventory, and supervising a team of technicians. Her favourite part of the job is working closely with her team, getting to know what inspires them and motivating each other to accomplish their work. When asked, "What does being a woman mean to you?" She said, "I'm very proud to be a woman! In our culture, women have to work all day and then we come home and take care of work in the household too. But it shows, we are strong and can handle more tasks than men."

Su Mon Thein is the head lab technician at Insein clinic. She is in charge of overseeing lab tests and their results, stock inventory, and supervises a team of technicians. Her favourite part of the job is working closely with her team, getting to know what inspires them and motivating each other to accomplish their work.

Alessandro Penso/MAPS

A patient receives ART (antiretroviral therapy) at MSF’s Insein Clinic.

Alessandro Penso/MAPS

Tin Lay, 42, from Myanmar, at MSF's Insein clinic, Yangon, Myanmar, Feb. 22, 2018.
After 12 months of ART (Antiretroviral Therapy), Tin Lay is now in the preparation stage for TB treatment.

Tin Lay, 42, from Myanmar, at MSF's Insein clinic. After 12 months of ART (antiretroviral therapy), Tin Lay is now in the preparation stage for TB treatment.

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