Efforts underway to control virus’s spread in Arakan State: health official

By DMG 09 Jul 2021

DMG Newsroom
9 July 2021, Sittwe

With more than 600 people contracting Covid-19 across 13 Arakan State townships in less than two months, efforts are underway to curb transmission of the deadly virus, according to Dr. Soe Win Paing, assistant director of the state’s Department of Public Health (DPH).

“We are currently doing our best to control the spread of the coronavirus in Arakan State,” he said.

A total of 667 virus-positive patients were reported in the Arakan State townships of Sittwe, Maungdaw, Thandwe, Taungup, Myebon, Buthidaung, Kyaukphyu, Kyauktaw, Minbya, Gwa, Ramree, Ponnagyun and Mrauk-U from May 12 to July 8.

Dr. Soe Win Paing said that during the second wave of Covid-19, civil society groups and young people actively participated in the fight against the virus as health volunteers, but amid the present third wave there is a lack of volunteers.

“During the second wave of Covid-19, there may have been volunteers from mainland Myanmar. Now we have fewer volunteers from mainland Myanmar who are involved in fighting against the virus in Arakan State,” he said, citing political instability in the wake of the military’s February 1 coup.

At present, some Arakan civil society organisations and concerned departments are cooperating to fight and control the virus, he added.

Currently, there are enough medical supplies to treat Covid-19 patients, and the state DPH has asked for help to ensure adequate drugs are on hand for future virus patients.

“We can handle the epidemic in terms of the number of infected people,” Dr. Soe Win Paing said.

Of Arakan State’s 667 coronavirus cases recorded through July 8, seven deaths have been attributed to the disease, according to figures compiled by the state DPH.