Narinjara news

UNICEF Immunization doses for sale!

Sittwe, 28^th December 02: Myanmar National Committee for Women's Affairs (MNCWA) by the dictate of the ruling Burmese SPDC junta has been collecting tolls forcefully in the western Burmese state of Rakhine beginning September 02, according to our correspondent.

The MNCWA has been reported to collect tolls from the immunization drives conducted throughout the state under the auspices of the UNICEF. For each dose of immunization given to children below five and to expectant mothers the rate is kyat 40 each at Ponnagyun Township beginning 25^th September. Every expectant mother has also been forced to pay kyat 500 as donation to the association’s fund for the Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Association (MMCWA). Besides this the Yayaka village councillors have been entrusted with the responsibility of collecting kyat 100 every month from each of the families of the villages for raising funds of the association.

If any of the expectant mothers or parents of children aged below five fail to pay the tolls, they are denied access to the medical treatment and immunization in clinics and hospitals. A large number of children aged below five and the expectant mothers cannot avail the benefits of the UNICEF sponsored immunization programmes, a village teacher in the area said. The villagers also have to pay for the food and drinks of the immunization teams, he added.

From all the business houses, big and small, including owners of fishing nets, trawlers, shopkeepers, rice mills and video houses, have to pay the tolls amounting to kyat 5,000 to 10,000.

Our correspondent quoting a source in the hospital said that, the present chaotic situation is the result of the ruling Burmese junta’s failure to spend enough money for the health sector. He also expressed high concern for the failure of the UNICEF sponsored programme of children’s immunization in Burma, causing a devastating situation at home and threat to the spread of the feared diseases for which the UN body offers substantial fund and materials to Burma.

The Myanmar National Committee for Women's Affairs (MNCWA) is headed by Maj-Gen Sein Htwa, Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement of the Burmese SPDC junta.#