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More than 10 children have died given the abysmal lack of medical facilities, shortage of doctors and poverty has led to an alarming rise in malaria, fever and other diseases in Arakan, Burma. The military junta does not provide any assistance to patients. Neither has the regime taken any decision to supply medicines, according to a village health worker.
Many people including children in Arakan State are suffering from various diseases like malaria, diarrhea, odaema, pneumonia, fever, vomiting and eye sore, he added.
In the rural areas of Kyauktaw and Paletwa most people living in hill tracts, are suffering from diseases which are monsoon related. They have requested the authorities to provide healthcare. But, no action has been taken, said a village headman.
In such a circumstance more than 10 children have died, he added.
But, in Maungdaw in the first week of June, the authorities did take action for Natala villagers who were brought from proper Burma in June 2. It provided treatment to those suffering from topical diseases, said an aide of the township authority.
The programme was organized by the Burmese border security force (Nasaka) headquarters and Buthidaung Military Tactical Operation Commands (TOC) office.
The Natala villages are - Thazin Myain, Annkyarin Myain, Banduhla among others. These are the most affected villages where there are new settlers
“The new settlers mostly favour the authorities in the ensuing 2010 election in Northern Arakan, They are getting more facility from authorities where it abandons local people in the health sector,” said a village elder from Maungdaw.
“We were surprised when we saw the Nasaka and army personnel come to treat topical diseases among Natala villages where new settlers live,” said a student in Maungdaw.
The State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) did not care to provide medical relief in Northern Arakan. Sub-medical centres have been set up in Northern Arakan in different villages without medical staff and medicines. These village clinics run by para-medics are unable to provide adequate treatment, as villagers cannot afford the cost of medicines, said a village health worker.
The villagers (only Rohingya) who can afford further treatment are not allowed to go to Sittwe (Akyab), the capital of Arakan State, which has the only hospital that can provide the full range of treatment.
“A majority of people cannot afford such expensive treatment and many die for lack of treatment,” sources said.
