Dear Sir,
I read with interest your article “Aung Hlaing Oo: Favored Go-Between for Junta, E. European Arms Makers” of July 13, 2024. The article contained a passage about the “obscenely high” rental paid by the World Health Organization (WHO) between 2013 and 2017 to Daw Khin Nwe Mar Tun, spouse of U Aung Hlaing Oo.
You are right in referring to the very high rental paid in Yangon at the time. That is why, on becoming Head of WHO Mission in Myanmar during February 2017, moving premises was my top priority—evidently in support of efficiencies undertaken by WHO and other agencies generally for international health programs. Barely four months later, by end-May 2017, it was done. WHO Myanmar country team was moving from Pyay Road to more affordable premises just off Dhammazedi Road (where it is still today).
Normally it costs money to move premises; in this case we made a huge saving. About three quarters of the earlier cost of accommodation was saved—and straight away put back into the WHO country program. When we were fighting a significant outbreak of H1N1 influenza later that year 2017, we were able to fund the additional costs related to responding to the outbreak from the rental savings made. Exactly as it should be.
Sometimes successful stories are rarely told….
With sincere good wishes,
Dr. Stephan Paul Jost,
WHO Representative to Myanmar, 2017-2021
