Locals in Ngwetaung village-tract in Thandaunggyi Township in northern Karen State are in need of medicine and health staff as the flu has become more common due to seasonal change, according to local news sources.
“There are no health staff in Ngwetaung, Koeditthayettaung, Koeditywatanshae and upper and lower Nancho villages in Ngwetaung village-tract close to Karenni (Kayah) State and Nay Pyi Taw Pyinmana. Due to the fighting in northern Thandaung, locals have fled to Ngwetaung. Almost all people suffer from the flu. We are in urgent need of flu medicine. We mainly need medicine for a runny nose and cough,” the person helping the IDPs said.
The local added that in the situation where transportation is difficult and fighting is going on, some health workers in the Karenni State are coming to villages in Ngwetaung village to provide treatment, the local said.
“There are about two Kayan villages in Ngwetaung. The remaining villages are Gebar Karen villages. Health workers from Karenni State come here to provide treatment when flu is rampant. Health workers come here by foot as it is difficult to carry patients with motorbikes.
Fighting is taking place here. If not, the patients have to go to the IDP camps in Karenni State to receive treatment,” told the Karen Information Center (KIC).
There are health departments of Health organizations under the Karen National Union (KNU) in Thandaunggyi Township in Taungoo District under the control of Karen National Union (KNU). But there are still areas that cannot be reached by them.
An official from Karen Department of Health and Welfare (KDHW) said: “We have to be cautious about the military council’s checkpoints. We have a mobile health team. We will hold discussion on the situation in Ngwetaung, with healthcare providers and health staff in the district.
In the second week of January, 2021, the military council’s Rural Development Department implemented development projects in 21 villages including Ngwetaung (lower) village in Thandaunggyi Township.
Many sectors including transportation and health in the villages in northernmost part of Karen State including Ngwetaung village-tract are still lagging behind development.
According to local media reports, there are some health departments of the military government, but there are no health workers to provide medical treatment.
There is a high demand for medicine due to the seasonal flu at the IDP camps in Yardo and in the western part of Demoso Township in Karenni State, according to the persons helping the IDPs.
Sent by KIC