12 July 2010: With the onset of the monsoon many people in Hakha town, Chin state western Burma are suffering from diarrhea. The disease has forced most of the afflicted into Hakha civil hospital, a report said.

There have been no deaths yet from the disease, but 43 children and 31 adults are admitted to Hakha civil hospital and about 40 people are being treated in private clinics, said a doctor of a private clinic in Hakha town.

Lack of awareness is the main reason behind spread of diarrhea because many do not have knowledge regarding consuming clean or boiled water and food. On the other hand the problem is that most people depend on water from streams and mountain rivulets and they cannot boil the water because they do not have sufficient firewood and charcoal.

“We are terribly afraid of being afflicted with diarrhea in our family, so I always tell my family to clean the food, have clean drinking water and adhere to personal hygiene. Some members of a non government organization and church members come and give tell us about community and personal hygiene. Especially elders from Zion Baptist Church go from house to house,” pu Thanceu in Hakha town told Khonumthung News.

Meanwhile, pi Ngunthaluai, a doctor in Hakha civil hospital said, “We have to be aware, especially our toilet should be kept free of flies, we should keep our hands clean, we have to prevent flies in our food, boil drinking water and avoid over ripe fruits during monsoon.”