More than 650,000 Rohingya people have fled from Myanmar into Bangladesh since last August. Diphtheria, a potentially deadly infection, has spread rapidly throughout crowded refugee camps. It’s the largest outbreak of this disease in decades.
Samaritan’s Purse opened a Diphtheria Treatment Center in Kutupalong camp-one of the largest refugee camps in the world-to provide quality care in Jesus’ Name to suffering people.
Since our center began receiving patients on Jan. 1 we’ve treated more than 3,000 people and admitted more than 600 for diphtheria. Although diphtheria can be treated with antibiotics, more critical situations require administering diphtheria antitoxin by IV. To date, we have treated more than 170 patients with the antitoxin.
Watch the video (at top) to see how two fathers and their children have been touched by the work of our treatment center.
The video features Solimolla, a widower who brought his son to our center because he complained of swelling in his neck and had a fever. It also focuses on Muhammed, a local staff member who helps ensure that our center’s day-to-day operations run smoothly. Muhammed also helps care for his brother’s child because his brother was killed when they fled Myanmar.
Please continue to pray for the Rohingya people and for our medical teams as they care for hurting people in Jesus’ Name.
Around the world, millions of people are forced from their homes, communities, or countries due to conflict, persecution, natural disaster, disease, or poverty. Your gift enables Samaritan’s Purse to respond to those affected by this increasing international crisis with assistance such as food, water, shelter, hygiene kits, cooking supplies, medical care, and more. We invite you to partner with us as we continue to respond to urgent needs in Jesus’ Name.