Clashes in Arakan State hamper polio vaccination campaign

By Khin Tharaphy Oo 01 Sep 2019

Khin Tharaphy Oo | DMG
1 September, Sittwe
     
The Department of Public Health has arranged to give polio vaccines for children up to five years in 12 townships but the department faces difficulty to fully conduct its campaign because clashes occurred in eight townships.

The department has arranged to provide additional polio vaccines in Ann, Kyauk Phyu, Sittwe, Buthidaung, Kyauktaw, Maungdaw, Minbya, Mrauk-U, Myebon, Pauktaw, Ponnagyun and Rathedaung townships, said Dr Sai Win Zaw Hlaing from the Department of Public Health in Arakan State.

“We currently have faced obstacles to provide health care in Arakan State. That’s why we’d like to request departmental heads to assist us providing our service in conflict affected areas when it is safe to go,” Dr Sai Win Zaw Hlaing said.

Myanmar was declared polio free in 2014, but three children from Karen State were found to have contracted the VPDP 1 virus in June this year. So, the department has been conducting an additional polio vaccination campaign in areas where the virus may break out.

Dr Sai Win Zaw Hlaing said that the department has planned for conflict affected areas to conduct the campaigns when these regions are safe.

The vaccination campaigns will be conducted in 96 townships from Karen, Chin, Kachin and Arakan states which cover about 1.3 million children. The department has arranged to give  the vaccinations two times; from 26 to 28 August and from 25 to 29 October.