Under-resourced Paletwa healthcare system teeters as infections rise among staff 

By DMG 28 Jul 2021

DMG Newsroom 
28 July 2021, Paletwa 

With a rising number of healthcare workers in town being infected with Covid-19, Chin State’s Paletwa faces growing risk of being plunged into a health crisis. 

A total of 234 coronavirus cases have been recorded in Paletwa, according to the Paletwa Township Health Department. Department head Dr. Soe Thet Win declined to reveal the number of infected healthcare workers, however. 

“Health workers were infected while giving treatment to Covid-19 patients. For the time being, we still can function with the remaining workforce. But we are overstretched and tired. There could be difficulties if there are more infections,” he said. 

Paletwa Hospital has just 50 beds, so schools have been turned into Covid-19 centres. 

Meanwhile food prices have soared in Paletwa and local residents are also concerned that medicines will run out amid a Covid stay-at-home order in the town. 

“Drugstore owners can’t go to Kyauktaw to restock medicines. Medicines are running out now. A strip of paracetamol is sold for 1,000 kyats now. And you can only get three eggs for 1,000 kyats. Rice prices are also increasing,” said Paletwa resident U Aung Aung. 

Residents in Paletwa rely on neighbouring Kyauktaw in Arakan State for both food and pharmaceutical provisions. 

DMG was unable to contact the Paletwa Township administrator for comment. As of Tuesday, one person had died among Paletwa’s 234 Covid-19 cases, with 90 people reported as having recovered.