Civil society organisations that are assisting with Covid-19 prevention activities in Arakan State’s Ramree Township are in desperate need of personal protective equipment (PPE), they said, including hazmat suits and other coronavirus preventive supplies.  

Ramree’s supply of hazmat suits is dwindling, according to Ko Myo Min Tun, manager of the Civil Collective charity group in Ramree town, which is involved in Covid-19 preventive efforts.

“We cannot buy PPE suits here. We have to place an order from Yangon. We have to wear PPE suits wherever we go because we have to help with the funerals of Covid-19 patients. We need gloves, masks, hand sanitiser and disinfectant,” he said.

A total of 77 Covid-19 cases have been reported in Ramree Township, with four fatalities and 26 people being provided medical treatment in hospital, the charity group said.

According to data from Arakan State’s Department of Public Health, as of August 1 there were 2,887 Covid-19 cases reported statewide during the pandemic’s ongoing third wave, with the death toll at 214.

Myanmar’s healthcare system has been stretched to the breaking point as Covid-19 infections rise to unprecedented highs and basic medical supplies and medicines become increasingly difficult to obtain.  

Medical oxygen shortages have also been reported in several Arakan State townships, with the spokesperson for the state’s military council recently acknowledging that oxygen supplies could not keep pace with demand.

Photo: The Civil Collective charity group is involved in Covid-19 prevention efforts in Ramree town.