Since the devastating cyclone that recently struck Rakhine State, the charity clinics in Sittwe Township pursuing their noble mission of providing essential health care services to the underprivileged, now face significant disruptions of their mission.
The officials of the charity clinics in Sittwe Township, Rakhine State, have expressed their inability to fully resume the healthcare supplies following the damage caused by Cyclone Mocha. The clinics remain unrepaired, and the situation has been exacerbated by a decrease in the number of donors. The lack of replenishment for medicine and treatment equipment further compounds the challenges they are facing.
"After the storm, we faced intense difficulties. Despite our efforts to collect donations, it wasn't enough. Clinics remain unrepaired, and healthcare operations are yet to resume. We're now making slow recovery progress with the small donations we received”, according to Ko Thar Che, person in charge of the clinic belonging to Myittar Yaung Chi Foundation.
The foundation previously offered basic weekly healthcare support to communities at A Di Htan and Dat Le monasteries, as well as in Sin Ku Lan ward of Sittwe Township, relying on the assistance of two dedicated
doctors. However regrettably their operations have now come to a halt due to financial constraints.
According to Ko Thar Che, they previously allocated an average of 1 million kyats per month to purchase medicine. Unfortunately, at present, they are unable to procure medicine due to a decline in the number of donors supporting their cause.
Similarly, Free Clinic Rakhine, which offers crucial healthcare support to the people of Sittwe, finds itself in dire need of assistance after the cyclone.
"In these challenging times, even basic medicines like Paracetamol, vitamin C, and painkillers are in short supply. Expensive drugs are even scarcer. If our clinic can't continue, the poor class will struggle to access healthcare support”, an official from Free Clinic Rakhine told DMG.
Under normal circumstances, Free Clinic Rakhine extends healthcare support to the Sittwe community twice a week. However, with the current rainy season bringing an increased number of sick individuals, they are making efforts to provide medical treatment three days a week to meet the growing demand for assistance, the official added.
Free Clinic Rakhine used to offer treatments to not only impoverished manual workers from wards like Danyawaddy, Satyonesu, Myothugyi in Sittwe but also to residents from townships such as Puaktaw, Kyauktaw, and Kandauggyi.
"The clinic is a lifeline for many manual working families. If it shuts down, the poor will be left helpless. Moreover, drug prices have gone up; a Paracetamol card used to cost 700 kyats, but now it's 900 kyats”, according to Daw Ma Khin Than, a resident of Konetan ward in Sittwe.
Since the storm struck, there has been a notable increase in diseases like dengue fever, malaria, and seasonal flu in Rakhine State.
As per the Rakhine State Department of Public Health, there have been 963 reported cases of dengue fever from early January to July 21st this year.
On May 14th, devastating Cyclone Mocha struck the Rakhine coast, causing immense destruction to numerous homes and buildings and affecting over 1.5 million people.
