Dr. Yu Yu May is a private practitioner involved in the Myanmar Medical Association (MMA) Public–Private Mix (PPM) Tuberculosis project in Mandalay Region, Myanmar.

Myanmar Medical Association (MMA) has been implementing the ‘Public-Private Mix TB Project’ with support from the Global Fund since 2011 in Myanmar,  namely in Ayeyarwaddy, Bago, Kayin, Magway, Mandalay, Mon, Rakhine, Sagaing, Shan, Kachin and Yangon.

“My name is Yu Yu May. My clinic is at my home. Patients come to me for persistent cough more than three weeks. 20 to 30 patients come to me every day.  They need my help. They take my medicines and subside from illnesses, “says Dr Yu Yu May.

Dr. Yu Yu May works with health volunteers who are trained to identify new TB cases in their communities.

Cherry Moe is a TB Health Volunteer. She has been working as a volunteer since 2007. Currently she looks after nine TB patients who are taking TB treatment.

Volunteers are very helpful for Dr Yu Yu May. They search for patients in villages and nearby communities.

“We go and give health talk house by house.  I tell them that TB is a disease transmitted through air. There is nothing to be ashamed of. You will get cured after taking treatment. I was able to learn a lot from Dr Yu Yu May—how drugs are prescribed and what doses to give. I know everything, “Cherry Moe says confidently.

Today, Dr. Yu Yu May declares one of her patients successfully cured after six months of TB treatment. “I am very happy to see these patients. I want to work for my patients and for human beings.”

Every year around the world, 3 million cases of tuberculosis are missed by health care systems. But people like Dr. Yu Yu May and Cherry Moe are working to change that. Their efforts are part of a national plan by the government of Myanmar to reach undiagnosed cases through both public and private health facilities.