Payathonesu, Yechaungphyar and Yebyu areas controlled by the New Mon State Party (NMSP) have been facing a long-term shortage of vaccines for children since the Covid-19 period.
At present, a child’s mother from Dhammapala village, a territory controlled by the New Mon State Party, said children have to be vaccinated every month in Kyaukmichaung village which is more than an hour’s bike ride from the village where the locals live.
“We have to go outside after listening to the situation as the current political situation is not stable. Some scared people don’t even dare to go outside. Because something will happen on the way. Children don’t get vaccinated as they don’t dare to go. I don’t know where the vaccination will take place next month,” she added.
She added that because of the long and rough road, there is concern about the children’s health as well as the fear of fighting. It is necessary to inject the vaccine in nearby villages in the area controlled by the New Mon State Party.
A medic working at the New Mon State Party’s Health Department said that the availability of vaccines for children aged under five in the New Mon State Party-controlled area is difficult due to a decline in the inflow of medicine since the Covid-19 period.
“When Covid-19 started in 2019, we were also working on the Thai border. At that time, when the border was closed, there was a shortage of medicine coming from Thailand. After 2019, we will not be able to inject vaccines like before. It was interrupted,” the medic said.
This year, only the polio vaccine can be administered. The Mon National Health Committee is making efforts to ensure that enough vaccines are available by 2024. At present, those who afford to pay money are going to Ye and nearby villages to receive vaccinations. However, local residents who cannot afford the cost of travel cannot get vaccinated, the medic said.
The Mon National Health Department mainly relies on the donors from Thailand for medicines and vaccines. According to those in charge of health, they themselves have to make arrangements for the availability of medicine as there is no sufficient medicine.
Sent by IMNA