By Kantarawaddy Times
Residents report that skin rashes continue to affect several villages and internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in the eastern part of Dee Maw Hso Township, Karenni State.
Throughout August, nearly the entire population of some villages experienced skin rashes. Despite some temporary relief, the condition has not completely cleared up and continues to reoccur, according to a 35-year-old woman living in a village in eastern Dee Maw Hso.
“I don’t think there’s anyone in the village who hasn’t been affected. Once it seems to get better, it just flares up again. The itching has been going on for a long time. Children, young people, and adults—all are affected. The itching is so intense that you can’t help but scratch, but that only makes it worse. Sores develop, and some elderly people and children are afraid to even go outside. We’ve tried ointments, avoided certain foods, and even bathed with herbal remedies, but nothing seems to improve—the rashes just keep coming back,” she said.
Some school-aged children are reportedly unable to attend school due to the severity of their rashes.
Although ointments and medications have been distributed to those affected, the relief is only temporary, and the supply of medicines has been insufficient due to difficulties in obtaining them, according to a member of the Nway Oo Guru medical group, which is providing health support in the area.
“During the rainy season, the rashes might be caused by unclean water or damp clothing. The main issue seems to be the inability to maintain proper personal hygiene. When we provide medicine, it helps temporarily, but once the medicine runs out, the rashes return. We can’t always supply enough medicine, and the recurring nature of the rash means more medicine is needed,” the medical group member explained.
Similarly, in the Pon Chaung Sites. 4 IDP camp within Dee Maw Hso Township, more than half of the children under five and school-aged children have been suffering from skin rashes for several months, with no signs of improvement.
