Newborns deprived of vaccination in Rakhine townships

Maung Sar Ga

Narinjara News, 4 May 2024

Many newborn babies in various Rakhine townships are deprived of vaccination as there is no adequate supply of vaccines, said local residents.

A health worker from Kyauktaw township informed that the closure of roads by the junta forces towards the townships under the control of  Arakha Army (AA) leads to scarcity of vaccines in the hospitals.

"The vaccines are not available in pharmacies and those are stored in the hospitals only. The vaccines are distributed to the township hospitals as and when needed. A proper storage system is installed in the  hospitals with a limited number of vaccines according to the number of local families," added the health worker.

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

The vaccines must be packaged properly and transported with the cold-chain system to avoid any damage. Under the present transportation restrictions, it becomes difficult to maintain the cold-chain system effectively.

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

According to the Myanmar health ministry, the complete set of 12 doses of vaccines can prevent a baby from serious diseases like polio, tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, haemophilus influenzae, hepatitis B, pneumococcal infections, Japanese encephalitis, measles, rubella, severe diarrhoea, etc.

A health worker from Ponnagyun revealed that the vaccinations for newborns will be administered in May and June.

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

In the hospitals under these towns, the vaccines for newborns were stored in a cold-chain system. But now because of the ongoing fighting, it becomes very difficult to store the vaccines.

During the intense fighting many hospital staff and health workers fled and now there is nobody to take care of the vaccines and administer those accordingly.

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