Movers and Shakers of 2020: The Irrawaddy’s Persons of the Year Movers and Shakers of 2020: The Irrawaddy’s Persons of the Year 5.6k By The Irrawaddy 22 December 2020 It has been a uniquely challenging year, even by the standards of Myanmar’s recent history. The global COVID-19 pandemic has not spared the country, and while the toll has been severe—Myanmar ranks third in ASEAN for cases and deaths—the most dire predictions have not come to pass, thanks to the heroic efforts of the nation’s doctors, nurses and volunteer health workers, who have worked tirelessly and at great personal risk to ensure that every patient receives free hospital treatment and that the country’s quarantine centers continue to function. The nation’s stretched medical resources have been calmly and capably deployed by Health Minister Dr. Myint Htwe and State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and crucially supplemented by the donations of Myanmar citizens, rich and poor. The nation’s economic ministries rose to the complex challenges posed by the pandemic, moving quickly to secure external assistance while drawing up plans to cushion the blow as much as possible at home.