“Could you please fill my cylinder first? The patient has lacked supplemental oxygen for over two hours. If I have to continue queuing, my patient will…”

Gazing at the middle-aged woman with her voice dying down, a man next to her said: “Please fill her cylinder and don’t let her queue.

Now is the time when oxygen is essential for everyone. In Kalay, there are a lot of places where people are lining up with their cylinders of various sizes to get oxygen being donated by philanthropic organizations. Since early June, Kalay residents have been going round in the streets on their motorbikes carrying cylinders to get oxygen. Since the first wave of Covid-19, the town has been busy and chaotic. When the third wave came, it was the first to de declared as a stay-at-home township.    

The death toll in the town has reportedly reached hundreds over the few months. The number of Christians alone who died of Covid-19 is now over 270. The death toll in the entire town could not be confirmed. There were deaths in villages while I have seen some others acquainted with me die before my own eyes. There are no exact data about who died of Covid-19, who died of seasonal flu or who died of any other disease.

Geographically, Kalay is a plain surrounded by hills and mountains. As the air in the town contains much water-vapour in monsoon, even young people feel like they are short of breath and in a boiling pot. Seasonal flu and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) are common in the rainy season. But the situation has been compounded by the Covid-19 outbreak. Unlike the previous years, this year sees a few preventive measures against seasonal flu. It might be because of healthcare staff shortages. The Covid-19 pandemic adds fuel to the seasonal flu outbreak causing greater concern for Kalay residents. 

Everyone who has recovered from their illness this year are still weak. They are feeling like their inner strength has been taken out of their body. They have to still suffer from this weakness a week after their medication and recovery. Most ailing people are now in need of supplemental oxygen. As Covid-19 attacks respiratory system causing difficulty breathing, most who were taken ill could be assumed to have been infected with Covid-19 if they did not receive testing. Some having medical knowledge say that if a person continue to be ill for over three days, he is most likely to have been infected with Covid-19. Oxygen cylinder has now become the most essential thing.   

“My mother badly needs supplemental oxygen. When she started hospitalization, oxygen level was 30. Now it has reached over 50. First, two or three of us had to look for oxygen. We have to make sure that she is not short of oxygen, especially at night,” said a woman whose mother is being hospitalized.

 Some Covid-19 patients need to consume up to two 40-liter oxygen cylinders a day. We feel a bit short of breath to live in the town of Kalay in monsoon due to its climate and geographical conditions. In the Covid-19 period, we find it difficult to buy medicine. Some drug stores sell their medicines for the sake of patients rather than profit. But they could not operate well when their salespersons got infected with the virus.

“Some shop assistants tested positive for Covid-19. Some got seasonal flu. We cannot provide our service at full capacity. With more and more people getting ill, there is no balance between sellers and buyers. So, I want you to understand us,” said the owner of a pharmacy. 

A family with unhealthy members needs another member to buy required medicine by looking for one shop after another. Things such as oxygen, medicines and food need to be bought. Most of the shops in the town open until 1 pm or 2 pm. Now, it is even difficult to buy breakfast. The number of shops that remain open in markets is also decreasing gradually.

Covid-19 cases in the third wave have increased in Tamu as well as in Kyikha and Tunzan towns on the Chin hill. As they are the towns of Myanmar bordering India, the virus might have spread to them. Along with seasonal flu, Covid-19 is being experienced in Tamu, Kalay and Kalaywa and Kyikha, Tunzan, Tiddim, Falam, Rikhawda and Htantalan in Chin State. Oxygen requirement is on the increase in all those towns.

Asked about the Kalay situation, a Covid-19 committee official said: “Now, Eiksot Covid-19 center has over 300 patients. The center carries out tests on those in contact with the infected patients. Those losing smell also receive testing. Those with recommendations from hospitals and clinics can receive testing. On the 11th day after 10 days of hospitalization at the center, the patients are discharged. We have medicines donated by well-wishers and provided by the hospital. We cooperate with the health department in acquiring basic medicines. Healthcare is provided by one senior nurse and about two junior nurses from the 300-bed hospital. To provide oxygen, we are working together with volunteer groups. Over 40 people have died at the Eiksot center. We could not get data about deaths in communities. 

“I have spent over Ks1 million on buying oxygen. I didn’t need to buy cylinders,” said a family member of a Covid-19 patient at hospital.

It costs Ks4,000 or 5,000 to fill a 10-liter container with oxygen. It costs about Ks5,000 or 7,000 to fill a 15-liter one.

“No sooner does dawn breaks than many people are out in the streets to look for oxygen. As we could not fill the cylinders, we had to buy 40-liter oxygen containers. A 40-liter contain is worth Ks120,000 to Ks220,000. It is so expensive. But we can’t help it because getting oxygen is important,” a Kalay resident said.

Ironically, some said their patients would not die and instead, they would die of exhaustion going round and looking for oxygen, rain or shine. For those whose patients need supplemental oxygen, they get so tired that they have to seek oxygen.  

However, it is more convenient now to get oxygen because many more oxygen suppliers have emerged.

As oxygen has to be ordered from large cities such as Yangon, Mandalay and Monywa, some express concern that cases might increase in those cities. But, Kalay has bought an oxygen concentrator with savings by the public members. It will reportedly be installed within a week. A another machine is also being installed at Wesali Hospital. Meanwhile, a businessman has bought another one. One more oxygen machine bought with the government budget has arrived at the people’s hospital. We hope those oxygen machines will fulfill the oxygen requirement of Kalay town.

“Previously, oxygen was required for just a few patients in a hospital ward. Not much was needed in the entire hospital. When the rainy season comes, it is common Kalay has a lot of people getting ill. But with the Covid-19 outbreak, oxygen requirement increases, a Kalay resident said.

For more effective Covid-19 treatment, measures are being taken based on different categories. Those losing smell and the asymptomatic will be sent to Eiksot Covid-19 Treatment Center, patients without severe symptoms and those who need no supplemental oxygen to the treatment center at the traditional medicine hospital and patients with severe symptoms and those needing supplemental oxygen to Kalay People’s Hospital. 

There are private treatment centers as well. But, we will lose our money, time, strength and health if we are infected with Covid-19. We are disappointed to see ambulances carrying dead bodies and their sirens wailing since early morning. There have been many deaths in every ward as well as in every village. I think people, philanthropic organizations, volunteers, health departments and other government departments must work together in taking Covid-19 preventive, treatment and control measures.

I no longer want to hear anyone say their Covid-19 patient has died at home. As soon as dawn breaks, things such as the whereabouts of drug stores, oxygen suppliers and other necessary equipment shops, who has died have become the talk of the town in Kalay.

Air we are inhaling consists of 78 percent nitrogen, 21 percent oxygen and 1 percent other gases. Everybody needs oxygen. An oxygen concentrator costs Ks800,000 to 1.6 million. So, ordinary people cannot afford it.

The prices of 10-liter or 15-liter oxygen containers range between Ks100,000 and 150,000 per container. There are also aid organizations renting oxygen cylinders. But they are outnumbered by patients needing oxygen.

Those badly in need have to inhale around ten 40-liter containers of oxygen a day. Without money, critically ill people may lose their chance of survival. Some have really died after oxygen supplies have been cut off. 

The towns of Tamu, Kalay, Kalaywa, Kyikha, Tunzan, Tiddim, Falam, Rikhawda and Htantalan are in desperate need of oxygen.

With the public following the Covid-19 rules and disciplines and authorities and aid organizations working together, we will be able to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic.

There is no other way but collective collaboration to overcome the crisis.