Almost all healthcare centres hit by cyclone reopen, says Arakan military govt

By Admin 16 Jun 2023

DMG Newsroom
16 June 2023, Sittwe

Out of 752 healthcare centres such as hospitals and clinics damaged or destroyed by Cyclone Mocha, which made landfall over Arakan State on May 14 with destructive force, 750 facilities have been reopened, according to a statement released by the Arakan State military council.

The cyclonic storm destroyed hundreds of healthcare facilities in Sittwe, Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U, Pauktaw, Rathedaung and Buthidaung townships, and 58 percent of the healthcare centres have been repaired, the state military council said on the Thi Kyar Say Chin Ngwe Thazin Facebook account on June 15.

“Out of 752 healthcare facilities, 750 health centres have been reopened. Building repairs are 58 percent complete,” the statement said.

A public hospital decimated by the storm in Rathedaung is being repaired, said Dr. Tin Myint Oo, medical superintendent of the hospital.

The Rathedaung people’s hospital was able to operate normally after more than a week of the storm, but due to the power outages, it is said to be operating with diesel generators.

Hospitals and clinics damaged by the storm have not yet been fully repaired. Currently, patients are in some cases being treated under tarpaulins, and in rural areas, homes are being used as clinics to provide healthcare services to area patients.

“Patients are provided with healthcare services at home as the rural clinic was destroyed by the cyclonic storm. The medicine was not damaged much by the storm. We are providing healthcare services to local people regularly,” said a health worker at a rural clinic in the Taw Phyar Chaung area of Ponnagyun Township.

The roof of a public hospital in Ponnagyun that was damaged by the storm is still being repaired.

“Ponnagyun people’s hospital provided regular healthcare services to local people since the storm swept through Arakan State. The hospital is being repaired, but it has not been completed yet. The broken glass still needs to be replaced,” said Ko Aung Min Zaw, a philanthropist from Phyusin Yinkhwin Foundation, a local charity in Ponnagyun.

During a visit to Arakan State in May, the Myanmar regime’s second in command, Vice Senior General Soe Win, instructed local authorities to repair healthcare facilities and public schools destroyed by Cyclone Mocha on a prioritised basis.