Arakan State social welfare organisations in need of PPE suits

By DMG 10 Aug 2021

DMG Newsroom
10 August 2021, Sittwe 

Social welfare associations in Arakan State that are providing help to Covid-19 patients and funeral services for fatalities of the virus are in need of hazmat aka PPE suits. 

The Phyu Sin Metta charity group in Kyauktaw Township has only 20 PPE suits and is in need of more, it said. 

“If we are facing an emergency need, Kyauktaw Township General Hospital gives some PPE suits. We are now using PPE suits donated by a monk and some PPE suits provided by the hospital,” the chair of the Phyu Sin Metta charity group, U Nyi Pu, told DMG. 

Since the number of Covid-19 cases is increasing day by day in Kyauktaw Township, the group has to use about 20 PPE suits a day and more PPE suits will be needed over the long run, he added. 

The group said it also needs disinfectant spray for preventing Covid-19 transmission in towns and villages. 

“We’ve almost run out of disinfectant. The group does not have enough funds to buy [more],” U Nyi Pu said. 

The Yadanar Parla free funeral service in Mrauk-U Township is also in need of PPE suits and other supplies to prevent Covid-19 infection. The group has to use at least five PPE suits for each funeral of a Covid-19 victim. 

“Our team needs not only PPE suits but also face shields, boots, and bags for dead bodies,” the chair of the Yadanar Parla free funeral service, U Kyaw Kyaw, told DMG. 

The Shwe Yaung Metta Foundation in Sittwe will run out of PPE suits very soon and has placed an order for 100 PPE suits from Yangon, a foundation official said.  

“We have to use PPE suits when we have to help patients. Previously, we had to use more than 20 PPE suits a day, but up to eight suits a day now,” said U Min Hte Wah, chair of the Shwe Yaung Metta Foundation. 

During the pandemic’s ongoing third wave, there were 3,300 coronavirus cases and 300 deaths in Arakan State as of August 9, with 537 Covid-positive patients currently being provided medical treatment, according to the Arakan State Department of Public Health.