By Kantarawaddy Times
In Karenni State, about 25 percent of the population in Somo Phay Soe Lay (Shadaw) Township are still suffering from skin itching diseases, according to local health organizations.
Health workers say the widespread cases are caused by unsafe water, lack of personal hygiene, displacement due to conflict, difficulty purchasing soap, and shortages of medicine, which prevent the disease from being properly treated.
Health officer Maw Meh Mo explained:
“Previously, our medicines were completely insufficient. For example, one patient with a skin disease should receive more than 10 tubes of ointment. But because medicines are limited now, we can only give about two tubes per patient. That is not enough for them, so the disease cannot be cured. Normally, a patient might need 10 to 20 tubes of ointment, but we can only give two. It only relieves the symptoms temporarily, and then the disease returns. From my perspective, the disease cannot be eradicated mainly because of the shortage of medicines.”
Skin itching diseases have been reported in every village in the township, and the condition has not been fully controlled.
On March 5, a Karenni mobile health team provided medical treatment in Daw Lel Du village in Somo Phay Soe Lay Township. According to health officer Maw Meh Mo, Daw Lel Du village is one of the villages with the highest number of skin disease cases in the township.
The village has around 40 households, but there is no clinic. Because of the absence of a clinic, residents must travel to the town to seek treatment, according to the village head.
“We do not have a clinic here. We have to go to the town for treatment. The Karenni mobile medical team only comes to visit the village about once a month,” the village head said.
Health officer Maw Meh Mo added that the persistence of skin disease cases is also due to difficult transportation, limited medicine supplies, and the inability of residents to buy soap for personal hygiene.
“Transportation is difficult, so it is hard to buy soap and other hygiene supplies. The conflict is also a factor. Therefore, we believe that soap and access to clean water are urgently needed. Donors have already started providing assistance, so I believe the situation may improve in the future,” she said.
Since February, a severe outbreak of skin itching disease has been reported in Somo Phay Soe Lay (Shadaw) Township, prompting requests for medical assistance. Although some support from donors has been received, there are still ongoing needs, according to reports.
There are 27 villages in Somo Phay Soe Lay (Shadaw) Township, with an estimated population of around 7,000 people.
