Localising virus prevention efforts, Lay Taung residents bar out-of-towners from overnighting

By DMG 16 Jul 2021

DMG Newsroom
16 July 2021, Ramree

Residents of Lay Taung town in Arakan State’s Ramree Township are taking Covid-19 prevention into their own hands, rolling out a local regulation against overnight guests from other townships amid complaints that official efforts to combat the virus are virtually nonexistent. 

One Covid-19 case has been reported in Lay Taung town and the infected individual was transferred to Ramree Township Hospital because there is no doctor at the town hospital. 

Covid preventive efforts are reportedly weak in Lay Taung town due to the lack of a doctor, leading residents to self-impose a restriction on overnight guests to curb the spread of the virus in town, said Ko Tin Moe, a resident of Lay Taung’s Thayet Cho ward. 

“When people go to the jetty, where boats are providing service to Kyaukphyu and Manaung, they must wear masks and gloves. And they must go straight to the jetty and not visit any house on the way. We are allowing them to pass through our town but we are not accepting overnight guests,” he said. 

Lay Taung residents said the local rule prohibiting overnight guests would be in effect for one month. 

Ko Aung Naing Tun, a Lay Taung resident, said he had serious concerns about health and medical care issues in the town because the town hospital is without a doctor.  

“The infections this time are [spreading] faster than the previous two waves of Covid-19. As the town does not have a doctor, there is no one to lead on Covid-19 prevention. When we ask administrators, they do not do any activity because they are not instructed. So, we have to set our own regulations to prevent Covid-19 infection,” he said. 

The town hospital’s last doctor was transferred out more than one month ago. Residents told DMG the government has said a replacement doctor would be assigned, but as yet no one has arrived to take up the post. 

Myanmar’s healthcare system has been stretched to the breaking point as Covid-19 infections rise to unprecedented highs amid a civil disobedience movement (CDM) in protest of the military regime and its February 1 coup. The CMD has included many hospital staff across the country who have refused to work for the junta.  

Medical oxygen shortages have been widespread and the Ministry of Health and Sports this week put out a “Request to volunteers to take part in Covid-19 prevention, control and treatment activities” amid the surge in cases.