Residents from Warazup village in Phakant village in Kachin State are facing difficulties because there are no more health workers in the rural health centers.

Situations were better in the past when the healthcare staff were working in the rural hospitals but now the locals have to choose to go to private clinics that cost them a lot of money, a resident from Shaduzup told Myitkyina News Journal.

“It will cost a lot more if we get sick nowadays. Additional costs have to pay for syringes and medicines. The prices are extremely high”, the local said.

Most of the health workers from the village joined the non-violent civil disobedience movement (CDM) after the military coup.

Recently thieves have been trespassing the hospital and stealing the medical equipment due to the absence of the healthcare workers, a Warazup resident said.

“There is nothing left after thieves stole all the goods from the hospital. That’s why the villagers had hired some people to guard the hospital building. Thieves took everything including hospital beds, ceiling fans and water dispensers”, he added.

Not only Warazut but also some other villages in Putao Township had lost health workers after the military coup. Pregnant women from these areas have to travel to far away regions to receive necessary healthcare.