Arakan State military council discourages home care for Covid patients

03 Aug 2021

DMG Newsroom
3 August 2021, Sittwe

Arakan State Administration Council spokesman U Hla Thein has urged people not to attempt to provide medical treatment at home if someone is suspected of contracting Covid-19.

“We announced to the public to go to the hospital if someone is suspected of being infected with Covid-19. But there are human rights and we cannot force them to do what they should do,” he said.

The council has been made aware of some coronavirus-infected people who died while being provided medical treatment at home, he added.

Ko Khaing Min Shin, chair of the Mrauk-U Youth Association, said people suspected of Covid-19 infection are being treated at home in every township, and oftentimes hospitalisation is considered only as a last resort, when a patient’s oxygen levels have fallen to dangerously low levels.

“I think it is better to test for Covid-19 at a hospital when someone is suspected of coronavirus infection. Providing medical treatment at a hospital is better than at home,” he said.

Authorities need to publicly announce and clarify the situation so that people know they should go to the hospital when Covid-19 infection is suspected, said Ko Zaw Zaw Tun, secretary of the Arakan Humanitarian Coordination Team.

“Some people do not know when they should go to the hospital. I heard that they are told to return home when they go to hospital when they have fever only. So, they have to take medicine at home and we can say that they are being provided medical treatment at home,” he said.

Some people who cannot afford to go to a clinic or hospital have to buy medicines available in their neighbourhood, he added.

“It is necessary to say exactly what ‘providing medical treatment at home’ is. What is providing medical treatment at home? Does it mean people who are taking medicines available in their ward or does it mean people who are taking medicines at home until their oxygen level is too low?” he asked.

A resident of the Arakan State capital Sittwe, who asked not to be named, said his experience was not one of welcome when he attempted to check in at a local clinic while experiencing a telltale coronavirus symptom.

“I went to a clinic for a medical checkup. When I said I do not have a sense of smell, I was yelled at not to come to the clinic,” he said.

During the pandemic’s ongoing third wave in Arakan State, a total of 2,940 cases were reported as of August 2, with 1,839 patients discharged from hospitals and 212 dead.