Covid in Burma: the distress call from a doctor in the face of the 3rd wave

Burma is facing an epidemic outbreak with more than 5,000 daily cases recorded in recent days, up from less than 50 in early May.

REUTERS - SHWE PAW MYA TIN

Text by: RFI Follow

3 min

Burma is facing an epidemic outbreak with more than 5,000 daily cases recorded in recent days, compared to less than 50 in early May.

Some 5,000 people have died in total, a toll that is certainly largely underestimated.

Hospital beds, oxygen cylinders, tests, vaccines, nothing is available in sufficient numbers in the country plagued by chaos since the February 1 putsch that overthrew the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

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A doctor at the public hospital in Mandalay, the second largest city in the country, testifies anonymously to RFI.

Since the coup d'état, all hospitals have been under the control of the military, a large majority of doctors have entered into resistance.

For the most part strikers, they continue to provide treatment clandestinely.

But they lack everything.

He makes a distress call.

" 

We need help from abroad, because the junta is neglecting the health of the Burmese. We need oxygen, medicine, but also in some parts of Burma, we need food. The previous government managed the first two waves of the epidemic successfully, covering the health needs of half the population. Under the military, we unfortunately do not have enough vaccines. In the quarantine centers, there are nothing, no beds, no blankets, no pillows. The military government does not meet the needs of hospitals in terms of equipment and oxygen. Last week two of my doctor friends who treat Covid-positive patients were arrested by the military.The junta arrested five doctors in Rangoon and four in Mandalay. The situation is dramatic. In a few weeks or next month, because of the junta, we expect high mortality among Covid patients. We need help. Please help Burma

! 

"

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To read also: 

Burma: "It is clear that a health disaster is happening"

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