Health authorities only started vaccinating children in Banmauk in Sagaing Region on 1 September this year, following a lack of vaccinations after the recent military coup, according to local residents and civil socieity groups.
According to locals, nearly a thousand people came to get vaccinated on the first day, with vaccinations starting on 1 September.
“Around 800 people came. The original plan was to vaccinate only in the morning. But as more and more people came, the vaccinations were carried out throughout the day,” said a leader of a civil society group in Banmauk.
In Banmauk, which is under martial law, some parents had to take their children to Katha to get vaccinated until early 2023 because there were no child vaccinations, he said.
Locals reported that some people who were traveling for vaccinations lost not have the opportunity to have their children vaccinated due to road closures amid the conflict, and that they can only now be vaccinated again in Bamauk.
U Mauk Kham, a town elder, said vaccinations will be conducted from 1-7 September.
“We didn’t expect so many people to come amid the political unrest in rural areas. We are just trying to make sure the children don’t lose their opportunities, and it is gratifying that so many people are coming,” he added.
In order to receive the vaccines, U Mauk Khan, the leader of a civil society group in Banmauk, said they had to ask an armed ethnic organization through the minister of ethnic affairs in the Sagaing Region to help with transportation.
Residents of Banmauk said the Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA) helped transport the vaccines along the route.
In this regard, an SNA officer confirmed, “Vaccines are not political. Vaccination is important. We helped with the transport at the request of the civil society group. There were no other intentions. We also asked parents in the areas we control to have their children vaccinated”
In Banmauk Township, rural hospitals and health centers have been closed since the end of 2021, so only residents of Banmauk town can receive treatment.
Sent by Shanni Voice.
