State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi wrote on her Facebook page yesterday that just because we are battling against COVID, we should not forget other dangers such as dengue and chikungunya which happen during the rainy season.

This was what she wrote:
Monsoon has set in. As the word “monsoon” is derived from the Arabic word “season”, we should call it “seasonal wind”.

In Myanmar, we are now in the rainy season. However, it is nothing like the rainy season that we are used to as children. This is not to say “oh, when we were young it was not like this” as is the habit of elderly folks. This is just to point out the nature of climate change. What has not changed is the need to protect ourselves from seasonal diseases.

Just because we are battling against COVID, we should not forget other dangers such as dengue and chikungunya which happen during the rainy season. Having a fever reduces our immunity level. Especially at times like this, we need a high immunity level. If fever develops, you should take it seriously and go to the nearest health department and receive treatment. However, there is no need to have excessive worries.

Due to COVID, programmes for giving regular vaccinations and oral administrations to children could not be done on time. These vaccinations are very important during the life time of children; for this reason, the Ministry of Health and Sports has initiated this programme even as we are preventing and controlling COVID. I want the parents to cooperate with us with special efforts.

Sometimes I wonder. The strenuous efforts that we have to make for the development of a country and make the lives of our people safe and secure, cannot be done like a seasonal wind with a time limit. It must be a wind that blows continuously at all times.

I pray that people will have spiritual strength and physical strength for all seasons.

(Translated by Kyaw Myaing)