Ninth Grade Schoolgirl Dies Of Dengue In Myitkyina

A schoolgirl in the ninth grade died in Myitkyina public hospital, in Burma's northern Kachin State on July 23 at about 7 a.m. from Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF), said local sources. Despite the high incidence of dengue and several deaths, especially among children, the Burmese military junta has remained apathetic in checking the spread of the disease and coming to the aid of the hospital in Myitkyina, which is spilling over with patients, locals said. Hkawng Naw (16) studied in grade nine in No. 5 State High School in Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State. She died of dengue -- bleeding from her nose and mouth in Myitkyina public hospital, said hospital sources. Hkawng Naw was hospitalized on July 22 night in a critical condition, hospital sources said. Relatives of Hkawng Naw said she was hospitalized too late because she was from a very poor family, which had no money to admit her to the hospital. Her father Hkawng Hkawng is dead. Her mother Ja Hkawn lives in No. 294, Section 5 in Du Kahtawng (or Du Mare) Quarter in Myitkyina. As in the case of Hkawng Naw, many patients suffering from dengue in Myitkyina cannot afford to go to the hospital, said a nurse. At the moment, there are over 120 child patients afflicted by dengue in the ‘Children’s Ward’ in the hospital. The hospital is overcrowded with patients and some have been put on bed shelves and on platforms and corridors outside the children’s ward, hospital sources said. Besides, there are over 70 DHF and Malaria patients over the age of 13 in the adult ward at the moment, said hospital sources. So far the Burmese military junta authorities of Myitkyina have not initiated any action to check the disease but some private donors have provided dozens of drips in the children’s ward, said sources. The number of DHF afflictions among both children and adults are increasing by the day and new patients are arriving in the hospital. But most patients are not being recorded as DHF cases by the duty-nurses on the instruction of Dr. Khin Tin, the head of the hospital, said sources close to him. According to hospital sources, the number of children and adult dengue patients in the hospital is much more than last year. However, many patients do not go to the government hospitals or clinics outside but stay at home unless their condition turns critical, given the high treatment costs.