Salman’s one-year old son is sick. He has a fever and has refused to eat for weeks. The local clinic in the village is not equipped to care for such a case; the baby needs to go to the hospital downtown. This isn’t easy to arrange.
Salman borrows money from some friends to help with the expenses and takes time off work. He travels to another village to schedule a ride on the police escort vehicle. However, it’s a holiday, so they have to wait a few days before they can travel. The cost of the ticket to the hospital is half a month’s wage! Salman’s wife and baby eventually make it to the hospital, where the baby is tested and treated with the proper medicine. By God’s grace the child recovered.
Others are not so lucky. Across Northern Rakhine state, barriers – visible and invisible – exist between Rohingya people and the healthcare they require. As well as costly travel expenses and medical bills, bribes need to be paid at check points, permission letters attained from village leaders.
Countless others have not been so fortunate, and many Rohingya can tell stories of loved ones dying because they were unable to get proper medical care in time.
- Pray a blessing of health over the Rohingya people in Rakhine state.
- Ask the Lord to give officials in charge compassion for the sick and dying that they might be able to reach the healthcare they need.
- Pray for freedom of movement in Rakhine state.