Maung SarGa

NarinjaraNews, 4 May 2024

Manynewborn babies in various Rakhine townships are deprived of vaccination asthere is no adequate supply of vaccines, said local residents.

A healthworker from Kyauktaw township informed that the closure of roads by the juntaforces towards the townships under the control of  Arakha Army (AA) leadsto scarcity of vaccines in the hospitals.

"Thevaccines are not available in pharmacies and those are stored in the hospitalsonly. The vaccines are distributed to the township hospitals as and whenneeded. A proper storage system is installed in the  hospitals with alimited number of vaccines according to the number of local families,"added the health worker.

Thenewborns deserve 12 doses of vaccines after the birth,  2 months, 4months, 6 months, 9 months, 18 months and so on. These are administered free ofcharges.

Thevaccines must be packaged properly and transported with the cold-chain systemto avoid any damage. Under the present transportation restrictions, it becomesdifficult to maintain the cold-chain system effectively.

"Mychild was born at an IDP camp and  I am worried that there is no vaccinefor  the baby. I want my child to grow as a healthy individual. May I urgethe concerned authorities to make it available as early as possible," saida lady.

Accordingto the Myanmar health ministry, the complete set of 12 doses of vaccines canprevent a baby from serious diseases like polio, tuberculosis, diphtheria,tetanus, haemophilus influenzae, hepatitis B, pneumococcal infections, Japaneseencephalitis, measles, rubella, severe diarrhoea, etc.

A healthworker from Ponnagyun revealed that the vaccinations for newborns will beadministered in May and June.

In RakhineState, the Arakha Army (AA) controls several towns like Pauktaw, Minbya,Myebon, Mrauk-U, Ramree, Kyauktaw, Ponnagyun, Rathedaung, Maungdaw, Paletwa,etc.

In thehospitals under these towns, the vaccines for newborns were stored in acold-chain system. But now because of the ongoing fighting, it becomes verydifficult to store the vaccines.

During theintense fighting many hospital staff and health workers fled and now there isnobody to take care of the vaccines and administer those accordingly.

Since 13November 2023, the junta forces in Rakhine State have imposed strict blockadeson various land and waterways following renewed clashes with the AA fighters.