The closure of Maungdaw township hospital in RakhineState has created significant hardships for local residents including pregnant women, said Maungdaw residents.

A nurse said that its closure caused difficulties forpregnant women, who need  caesarean deliveries, including those withprevious caesarean births, to access necessary medical care.

"For women who have undergone OGs and C-sections,it's time for another C-section. During this period, a natural birth is notfeasible. Attempting natural childbirth without a C-section can lead to riskingtheir lives," she added.

Currently, several staff members from Maungdawhospital have left the town. Only a few nurses remain to offer medicalassistance to their acquaintances. However, due to the inability to conductsurgeries, the pregnant women are encountering serious challenges, sheasserted.

"If you fall ill, there are no hospitals, clinicsor doctors available here. We have to purchase and consume medicines frompharmacies, which are very costly. With closed roads, the cost of everythinghas risen alarmingly," said a conscious Maungdaw resident.

The nurse also mentioned that due to the shortage ofmedicine, most women of Maungdaw are finding it difficult to obtain birthcontrol injection & pills.

"Nowadays, even a single Depo 3-month injectioncosts Kyats 30,000. Only 7 or 8 remain  available at a time," shestated.

An  HIV infected person  mentioned thatsince the hospital is closed, they are not getting the antiretroviral therapy(ART) drugs which is needed. Otherwise their health condition will only

Worsen.

"I have been taking ART for more than ten years.Previously, I obtained ART from MSF, but since 2014, they have transferred thesupply to government hospitals. Consequently, I relied on the hospital formedication. Now that the hospital is closed, I am unable to access medicines.Now I am living with medicines obtained from nearby pharmacies. I alsoapproached MSF, but I couldn't get it," added the person.

The military junta's decision to block the flow ofgoods (including medicines) and even shutting down the hospital is beingcriticized by local residents saying that it’s a human rights violation.

"We demand to reopen the roads for supplyingmedications from Sittwe. This is a violation of human rights and akin tokilling people without any way to escape," added a conscious resident.

The said hospital was closed permanently on 4 Marchand all the staff were  transferred to Sittwe. The township generaladministrator assured that the hospital will be reopened on 9 March, but thestaff remained reluctant to return to office as there are  no doctorsavailable in the hospital.

"If a doctor from the State health ministryarrives, the staff will return to the hospital. Without a doctor, what can thenurses do?" she questioned.

The intense fighting between the Arakan Army (AA)fighters and junta soldiers  in Maungdaw locality led to the travelrestrictions imposed by the junta which has caused hardships to the residents.