Pregnant women escaping the ravages of war in the southeastern regions of Shwegu Township in Bhamo district, require immediate and critical access to healthcare services, according to local relief workers.
As a result of fierce clashes between the Military Council and the Kachin People's Defense Force (KPDF), numerous inhabitants from approximately twelve villages, including Manwin, Naunglatgyi, Nantlan, Sitha, and Sithong in Shwegu Township, have been compelled to flee the ongoing conflict. Among the displaced individuals are approximately 50 pregnant women, some of whom have sought refuge in the surrounding forests. These pregnant women are in urgent need of healthcare to ensure safe conditions for childbirth.
"There were four women I assisted in delivering babies over the past few months. It was incredibly challenging for them to give birth in the forest. Some pregnant women who can afford it choose to travel to towns to give birth, but for those who have no assistance in the forest, there is great concern for the risks it poses to their lives”, a midwife from Manwin said.
There is an urgent requirement for medicines to support women who have given birth while fleeing the war, as well as vaccinations for pregnant women who are yet to deliver, she added.
Pregnant women from the war-torn twelve villages had initially sought vaccinations at Sitha regional hospital before being forced to flee due to the war. Unfortunately, they were unable to receive the vaccinations as there were no nurses available at the hospital. One of the pregnant women expressed her concern, stating that expecting mothers are being deprived of their right to receive essential vaccinations.
"Vaccinations have been unavailable since March when my village was devastated by the conflict. As a midwife, I lack the authority to administer vaccines. Only nurses are authorized to do so. Sadly there are no nurses at the hospital”, the aforementioned midwife told KNG.
Pregnant women with no financial means, encounter massive obstacles to find cheap transportation to nearest facilities in Shwegu Township 10 miles away, to give birth.
In cases where the pregnancy period exceeds four months, two vaccinations are necessary. However, there are still pregnant women who have not received a single vaccination despite being past this time-frame.
"In the past, vaccinations were conveniently administered at our village hospital, alleviating any concerns. However, due to the prolonged absence of nurses, the hospital has remained closed for an extended period. The result is that every pregnant woman in the village is now facing great hardship and anxiety about how to safely delivery their baby.
Some fortunate women who have the means to afford it venture to the town and seek medical assistance at clinics. Unfortunately, the remaining pregnant women in our village are left with no choice but to rely on traditional remedies, exacerbating the uncertainty surrounding their health and well-being”, a woman from Sitha said.
On March 20th, the Military Council troops initiated an operation in the southeast areas of Shwegu. However, their advance was met with unexpected resistance as they were ambushed by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) along with local PDF, and many Junta soldiers were killed or
wounded. In an act of retaliation, regime soldiers resorted to setting fire to 12 nearby villages, leading to the displacement of locals who fled the area.
