Chin: Dire Health Conditions for Children
The poorest state in Myanmar suffers from extreme health care deficiency for children, amounting to cover only 6% of the infants of the region, an alarming situation which has recently been revealed by a study conducted by UNICEF. The need for urgent action has brought together the Myanmar Institute for Integrated Development (MID) and UNICEF in a five-year initiative aiming to introduce efficient public planning for health and nutrition of Chin women and their offspring.
Below is an article by Burma News International
In Chin state, the poorest state in Myanmar, only 6 per cent of children receive health care, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said.
A UNICEF press release from 5 May said that children in Chin state are not developed to their age level compared to children in other states and that they are thin and frail. Their weight is not normal for children of their age because they have no proper health care.
A health director in Ngaphaipi Village, Thantlang Township said: “We have village level health care centres, but the staffs do not attend regularly. Our medicines are provided by the township health centres and are unsuitable for public health needs."
UNICEF and the Myanmar Institute for Integrated Development (MIID) will work together for Chin women and children’s health from 2016 to 2021. The five-year project aims to prevent lack of nutrition in mothers and children in Chin state, said Bertrand Bainvel of UNICEF.
Meanwhile, the Messenger News said that in Chin State, 31 per cent of children are under normal weight, 58 percent are shorter than normal and nine per cent are frail. This is due to a lack of nutrition and vitamins.
Photo Courtesy: Christopher Michel
