Water struggle adds to young woman’s health battle

Quiny Tony, a 21-year-old woman living with down syndrome, has reportedly battled severe crusted scabies since 2019, following an outbreak of a highly contagious itchy skin condition locally referred to as 'I Don't Care'.

She is from the Jika Melakemb Tribe of Hagen Central District, Western Highlands Province.

Years later, her suffering is being compounded by the worsening water shortage.

With household tanks and nearby water supplies dry, her family struggles to access sufficient water for her daily care, washing and hygiene.

The nearest water source, River Rongen is about a kilometer away.

Quiny's mum Tracy Kerowa, a primary school teacher tells this newsroom that Quiny though born with Down Syndrome hasn't had such skin disease until 2019.

Mrs. Kerowa added, though Quiny had face some challenges with her health when she was a little girl, she lives a normal life always being described by her friends and family as 'bubbly and outgoing'.

However, with her skin condition, this had made Quiny bedridden most of the day and wanting close attention for her skin disease.

"Quiny was born healthy but with down syndrome. Some of her health issues has made us in and out of the hospital for almost five years and after that I left Quiny at home with a 'house girl' and had to go back to work," Kerowa said.

"My instructions to the house girl was to pay attention to Quincy especially with her hygiene as she needs clean and fresh water to ease the itchiness caused by the scabies."

Following the dry months [without rain], water tanks and other nearby water sources around the family's home have dried making it difficult to maintain regular washing and hygiene needed to care for Quiny.

And with a household already caring for a vulnerable young woman with a serious skin condition, the daily journey to fetch water has added another burden.

Quiny's condition has been described by medical specialist as Norwegian or crusted scabies; a severe form of the disease that requires proper medical assessment and treatment.

The World Health Organization identifies crusted scabies as a severe form of scabies that can cause widespread scaling and crusting of the skin and may lead to secondary infections.

WHO says Papua New Guinea carries a particularly high burden of scabies, with the disease endemic across all provinces.

While scabies itself is caused by mites and is not simply the result of poor hygiene or lack of water, limited access to water can make the daily care of an affected person much more difficult, particularly when clothes, bedding and personal hygiene require regular attention.

A recent social media post by Quiny's big brother about her health condition has received a medical doctor's attention.

Quiny was taken to the Mt Hagen Provincial Specialist Hospital last week and was tested, treated and prescribed to by the doctor to complete her medication.

"Thank you Dr. Junior John McKup for reaching out to Quiny in regards to her skin condition. Quiny is now put on medication (tablets, ointments) and we were advised to give her medication on time and see if her skin condition still persists," Quiny's mum said.

Quiny is the fourth child to a family of six children, and all her brothers and sisters, including her parents, do not have this skin condition nor down syndrome.

For Quiny Tony, every drop of water now represents more than basic necessity, it is part of her daily struggle to comfort, care and dignity.