Diarrhoea kills seven children at Muslim village in Minbya Twsp

31 May 2021

DMG Newsroom
31 May 2021, Minbya

Seven children have died from diarrhea in Pauk Taw (Muslim) village of Nagara village-tract in Minbya Township over the past five days, according to residents.

Caused by contaminated drinking water, the disease claimed its latest child victim on the evening of May 30, said Pauk Taw village head Saif Dulaman.

“A 1-and-a-half-year-old child died from the disease yesterday. It is because of unsafe drinking water. They drink river water without boiling it. And, the weather is very hot. They ate ripe mangoes and drink river water,” he said.

The diarrhea outbreak has only affected children under the age of 5, with the fatalities being toddlers.

The first cases were reported in Pauk Taw (Muslim) village on May 26. Currently, more than 100 people have been provided treatment at Pan Myaung and Myaung Bway sub-township hospitals, said the village head.

Thingaha Kan Lat Rakhita group donated 130 20-liter drinking water bottles and 20 packs of one-liter drinking water bottles to the village on May 30.

“We’ve donated [the supplies] as humanitarian aid,” said U Ann Thargyi, chairperson of Thingaha Kan Lat Rakhita group.

Pauk Taw (Muslim) village has a total population of about 4,000 people from more than 680 households, but only one of three local drinking ponds contains water that is potable. At present, villagers also have to rely on water from a dug well and the Lemro River, said the Nagara village-tract administrator.

U Oo Than Tun, a member of Arakan State Administration Council, said they had planned to get clean water and healthcare assistance quickly to the villagers.

“First of all, we’ve planned to send drinking water bottles to that village swiftly as the disease is caused by unclean water. And, the Health Department has also arranged to send healthcare workers to that village quickly,” he said.

Currently, healthcare and health education efforts have been carried out for Pauk Taw village, and the disease rate has declined, said Minbya Township Medical Superintendent Dr. Nay Win Tun.

“The number of patients decreased by 20 yesterday. The number of cases surged up to 60 or 70 per day in previous days. Now, the number has declined gradually,” he said.

Those patients who have recovered from the disease are in good condition, added Dr. Nay Win Tun.

The Minbya Township Health Department has urged people to live in line with their health directives as COVID-19 continues to be a concern, as well as emphasising the importance of personal hygiene, and early reporting of illnesses.