Many children in Mindat Township, Chin State, are suffering from itching and skin diseases, with more than 200 of them being treated over the last month, according to a Save team official who provides health care in the township.
“They are suffering from skin diseases. These diseases are very common right now. About 60 percent are patients with skin diseases. Most of them are children,” said the Save Team worker.
About 70 percent of cases of itching and skin diseases are found in children, and the remaining 30 percent in adults and middle-aged people.
Save Team, a civil health organization, provides medical care to residents of 13 villages in Midat municipality. In September, they treated more than 720 patients, of whom more than 200 were children suffering from itching and skin diseases, officials said.
Regarding the situation of many children in Mindat Township suffering from itching and skin diseases, the Save team official continued: “Last year, we held educational talks on environmental sanitation and cleanliness of toilets. This allowed us to get things under control. We have done the same this year. We have also had regular health talks in schools. This year we were not able to prevent these diseases. Most of the parents here are busy farming in the mountains. They have little time to take care of their children. When the children are in school, the parents are busy in their farms. Most children of all ages left unattended like this get sick,” the health official said.
In October, 60 percent of the patients treated suffered from itching and skin diseases, and skin diseases have been occurring in these areas for more than three months.
Among other patients, seasonal flu is the most common, but patients with hypertension and diabetics were also found, according to officials.
The Save Team official said that these diseases are becoming more common in Mindat Township and therefore more medicines and supplies are needed. In some areas, there are health workers but no medicines, so it is difficult to treat them.
“Speaking of health, medicine is the biggest obstacle. In some places, there are medical workers. In other places, there is not enough medicine, and we can’t do anything for the patients,” he said.
He went on to say that there are many difficulties in transporting medicine because of the restrictions imposed by the military council, and that the price of medicine is increasing month by month, so help is needed.
Save Team is a local organization that has been providing medical care to residents of Mindat Township on a self-sustaining basis since the coup.
Sent by KMG.