give treatment when patients have big problems that are unclear to me.
When that happens I feel very very bad. One thing I want to add is that I
use good communication, show empathy and take time to care for each
of my patients.
As shown in the commentary above, unlicensed health practitioners may recognize
their lack of formal medical qualification but tend to defend their practices on
the basis that they are affordable and available to community members, who can
trust them to listen. At the same time, these practitioners’ perceptions of the
spread of Covid-19 were often out of step with official statistics and reports on
the virus.
(5) Concerns to share with humanitarian agencies and other
actors responding to the pandemic
As with the earlier ‘Flash Report’, many community members interviewed about
Covid-19 mentioned their strong desire to return home to Myanmar as soon as
possible. One man requested the government of Bangladesh to “make a bridge to
cross the Naf river safely for us with a good solution.” In the shorter term, one of
the most frequent requests documented by the research team was for more open
movement access within the camps. Many respondents also requested access to
education, both religious and academic, as well as restored internet access to
enable communication with relatives in Myanmar, overseas, and on Bhasan Char.
Others made a general request for better healthcare services.
Most community members who were interviewed requested supplies that can help
them protect themselves from Covid-19, including masks, soap and hand sanitizer.
Some advised that isolation facilities should be available in each camp for the
sake of greater accessibility and community trust. Others said that more
handwashing stations are needed throughout the camps. Increased attention to
waste management and latrine hygiene were also seen as important measures for
improving camp health overall. Many people also requested increased outreach
and awareness raising, particularly door-to-door by Rohingya volunteers, to
educate people in the camps about the details of the virus. One unlicensed health
practitioner participating in a focus group discussion (FGD) asked for NGOs to
hire and train him and other such practitioners to enable their formal integration
into the camp health system.
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