Sitagu Cakkhudana Hospital, Mahamuni Buddha Image closed against COVID-19 resurgence

With an increasing number of COVID-19 confirmed cases in Hsipaw town, the Sitagu Cakkhudana Hospital OPD and Mahamuni Buddha Image have been halted temporarily starting from 30 June.
More than 40 COVID-19 confirmed patients were found in Hsipaw town and it is widely spreading in seven out of 11 wards in Hsipaw town. This is the reason why Sitagu Cakkhudana Hospital OPD and Mahamuni Buddha Image have been closed temporarily.
“The number of COVID-19 cases is increasing daily. Thus, we have decided to close some of them. We have opened the OPD with our own decision and now closed again. The OPD is meant for the public from Hsipaw town. The OPD resumed its operation on 10 February because some of the private clinics are still being closed and people have nowhere to go when they feel sick. We have provided treatments for nearly 1,900 OPD patients free of charge in over four months. The hospital also donated cash to some patients because they do not have transportation charges to go back after having treatment,” said a Sayadaw from Sitagu Cakkhudana Hospital.
Sitagu Cakkudana hospital was established in 2008 and provided free eye care and operation service once every four months. But the operation of the OPD was suspended in late January 2020 because of the spreading of coronavirus. So far, the hospital has provided free eyes care service to nearly 30,000 patients. — Aye Maung/GNLM