By Kantarawaddy Times
In Daw-Po-Shee village, located within the Konelyar displacement camp in eastern Pruso Township, Karenni State, more than half of the school-aged children have contracted malaria, according to a health worker actively providing care in the area.
“There is a severe shortage of medication, particularly for treating malaria. For the time being, we have managed to obtain some medicine by requesting supplies from nearby clinics, but it remains uncertain if it will be enough,” the health worker told Kantarawaddy Times.
The camp, which houses over 30 school-aged children, has seen a significant rise in malaria cases, primarily affecting those under the age of 14. In the past two months alone, approximately 20 cases of malaria have been reported.
With the growing number of infections, there are increasing concerns that the disease could spread further within the camp and to neighboring villages.
In addition to malaria, cases of dengue fever and hypertension have been reported among camp residents. Some children and adults suffering from malaria are experiencing severe symptoms, such as vomiting.
“Several people are experiencing severe malaria symptoms, including vomiting. In one particularly serious case, a child and an adult have become nearly unconscious,” the health worker explained.
The displacement camp lacks proper medical facilities, and while there have been no reported deaths from malaria thus far, the situation is alarming. The high cost of transporting patients to hospitals for treatment presents a significant challenge.
Amid this outbreak, both displaced persons and local residents are finding it increasingly difficult to obtain the necessary medications, with rising prices making treatment unaffordable for many.
Efforts have been made to seek assistance from the Interim Executive Council (IEC), while medical care is currently being provided with the limited supplies available from the Civil Health and Development Network (CHDN), a local ethnic health organization.
Daw-Po-Shee village, located within the Konelyar displacement camp, consists of 25 households with a total population of 133 people.
