During her third pregnancy, Daw Hla May (pseudonym) anticipated delivering her baby with the assistance of a village midwife, as she had in previous pregnancies. However unforeseen complications arose during labour, necessitating an urgent transfer to a rural clinic. Tragically by the time she reached the clinic, her unborn baby had already passed away.
Daw Hla May, residing in Shitkalu village within rural region no. 14 of Midat Township, Chin State, encountered a harrowing ordeal during her labour. In a desperate emergency, she braved the perilous mountain roads on a chartered motorcycle, aiming to swiftly reach rural region no. 3 where a doctor could assist her. Despite her determined efforts, upon reaching the rural clinic, she faced the devastating news of her unborn baby being stillborn.
"They had to travel a long way to reach here. The woman had a hard time giving birth, and she was also bleeding. Her family struggled to rent motorbikes or cars, which caused more delays. After the ultrasound, we confirmed that the baby had passed away. The mother mentioned she felt the baby moving in her until she reached the hospital. We laid the stillborn baby to rest”, Ko Laurance, the in-charge person of the Mindat Township IDP Management Committee said.
Since the coup, healthcare services in Chin State have severely deteriorated, leading to numerous tragic situations for maternal mothers in rural areas, mirroring Daw Hla May's experience. With a scarcity of clinics, doctors, and essential medicines, mothers in Chin State are tragically losing their babies even in circumstances that could have been prevented.
According to the Mindat Township IDP Management Committee, there have been over 20 infant deaths in the three years since the coup in Mindat Township alone. There has also been a notable rise in maternal mortality rates, paralleling the tragic loss of newborn children. Ko Laurance stated that in the three years since the coup, there have been 12 cases of maternal mortality among war-displaced individuals.
Maternal and infant mortality rates among war-displaced individuals have increased in Thantlang, another township in Chin State too, according to local aid workers.
"There were pregnant women who traveled a long way to reach Tikir (regional) Hospital, but sadly, some passed away because they could not make it in time. In 2022, the hospital witnessed three newborn deaths in just one month. In one instance, a fetus was stillborn and required surgical removal from the mother's womb. Another woman had to undergo an abortion at around eight months of pregnancy. In yet another case, a child died after birth due to deteriorating health. These occurrences highlight a troubling situation that demands serious attention”, a Thantlang resident said.
For approximately three years since the Junta troops burned Thantlang to ashes, locals have continued to seek refuge in nearby villages and along the India-Myanmar border.
“Some women among the war-displaced population have chosen to have children later in life. Due to the ongoing situations, both pregnant women and those with gynecological issues are experiencing significant hardships. Most rely on local remedies, resorting to seeking treatment in Hakha or Mizoram (State in India,) if the conditions worsen. Sick children also endure considerable suffering”, a war-displaced woman from Thantlang explained.
Due to the security reasons, accurately surveying post-coup infant and maternal deaths across Chin State is difficult, potentially resulting in underreported figures that may not fully reflect the severity of the situation.
In Chin State, characterized by its vast highland terrain and challenging transportation, insufficient healthcare services have led to cases of newborn and maternal deaths even prior to the coup, though the situation has worsened significantly since then.
Under the civilian government led by the National League for Democracy (NLD), the Chin State government initiated projects aimed at decreasing maternal and newborn mortality rates, which included regular provisions of vaccinations, subsidies, and nutritional supplements.
However, following the coup, the Junta was unable to sustain these programs across most parts of Chin State, except for a few urban areas. With the flames of war engulfing Chin State, civil and international organizations also find themselves unable to fill the resulting void.
Out of the 9 townships in Chin State, 8 have been declared under a state of emergency by the Junta, posing numerous hardships for aid organizations in their operations.
"In the last three years, there have been many deaths of newborn babies and pregnant mothers in Mindat. Some died during childbirth due to a lack of medicine. Most pregnant women rely on village midwives for delivery, and local transportation is very harsh, especially with natural disasters like landslides making it even harder. The shortage of drugs and supplements has added stress to expectant mothers, contributing to more child deaths during childbirth”, Ko Laurance from Mindat said.
A person assisting Thantlang's war-displaced individuals highlighted the significant
negative impact on expectant mothers, citing hardships in accessing essential medicines and nutritional support during pregnancy, coupled with limited knowledge about pregnancy and heightened stress from being displaced by war.
"Pregnant women face significant hardships when they are unable to afford basic supplements such as calcium and iron. The stress from conflicts adds to their difficulties. With limited access to meat and fruits, it is hard for them to get proper nutrition. These conditions, combined with various troubles, can greatly affect both pregnant mothers and their babies”, he said.
Currently, 75 percent of the total population in Chin State is grappling with inadequate clinics, limited healthcare workers, insufficient medication, challenging transportation, low health awareness, and the stress of displacement following the coup.
Local resistance forces are beginning to implement public administration mechanisms in the areas under their control, yet significant healthcare needs still exist.
The newly formed Chin State government, established on February 1, has pledged to execute a 100-day plan, with a focus on prioritizing the education and healthcare sectors within Chin State.
Presently, rural communities and the war-displaced population in Chin State continue to endure difficult conditions in the healthcare sector. Failure to address these issues promptly could cast a shadow over the future of expectant mothers and their babies, who hold the promise of ushering in a brighter generation for Chin State.
