AN international distributor of drugs and cosmetics donated thousands of sachets of Ovaltine earlier this month for distribution to tuberculosis patients seeking treatment at privately run Sun Quality Health clinics throughout Myanmar.

Diethelm Co., Ltd provided 9000 20-gram sachets to be handed out to patients at the 417 Sun Quality Health clinics in the country, which operate under an agreement with the nongovernment organisation, Population Services International (PSI).

The clinics provide health services to TB patients, such as phlegm testing and free treatment, with support from the government’s National Tuberculosis Program.

Dr Nyo Nyo Minn, the deputy country director of PSI Myanmar, said about 900 new TB patients appear every month in Myanmar.

“Many TB patients suffer from malnourishment so Ovaltine is a useful donation,” she said. “The government also provides medicine free of charge, which also helps the patients.”

She said Diethelm will donate 82,500 additional Ovaltine sachets to PSI in the next five months.