According to a new report from the United Nations, medical supplies are at a critical shortage level in Myanmar. They focus on the urgent call for tents, of which medical personnel and the population at large are in dire need. This announcement comes at a time when the country is experiencing an increasing array of health crises. These issues are compounded by a lack of protection from extreme environmental exposures.
The need for tents has been clear, especially when it gets hot, forcing people to be out in the heat with no relief from the sun. Until last Sunday, there hadn’t been any tents where they could seek shelter said Ma Ei, 38, a resident of the camp. These shade tents are extremely important to ensure that health workers can do their best work. They allow them to serve their constituents confidently and excellently. The lack of medical supplies, including temporary surgical shelters, is leading to alarming conditions. It endangers our capacity to efficiently respond to healthcare needs in the impacted areas.
In her testimonies, Ma Ei discussed the alarming reality faced every day, including the possibility of receiving a higher number of patients in need of urgent care.
“There may be more patients than this,” – Ma Ei
The lack of humanitarian support has deepened the trauma for those who experienced chronic conditions before the storms. Without adequate space and quality care, their health problems only continue to escalate.
“Some patients with pre-existing chronic diseases are suffering even more,” – Ma Ei
The absence of these life-saving resources endangers health workers’ lives in desperate and alarming ways. It puts at risk the patients they all are passionate about serving. To protect themselves and prevent outbreaks, health workers need to be able to take care of the much-needed and invaluable area of health. The UN’s alarming warning serves as a critical reminder that we must act to rectify this shortage before the health crisis becomes irreparable.
In Sagaing town, the situation is made more perilous by paranoia among rescue workers. As you might imagine, fears over potential arrests have prevented some people from stepping up to provide assistance. This reluctance makes a confusing, frustrating, and painful experience even more complicated.
“Some rescue workers do not dare to give help because they are afraid of being arrested,” – A local person in Sagaing town who asked not to be named.
To let the community know about this, Ma Ei wrote about how conditions have deteriorated as a result of the delay in intervening. She pointed out that without immediate assistance, the area is starting to smell of death.
“It’s been two days, and the smell is starting to emanate,” – Ma Ei
The world is watching as this situation continues to unfold. Human rights organizations and global health agencies across the spectrum are calling urgently—the world over—for action to address these shortages. Changing guns with tents and medical supplies is more than a good idea. It reduces strain on the local population and contributes to long-term rescue and relief response efforts.