27 March 2026 – A new clinic has opened in Chakhai village in the Mara region, Matupi township of Chin State, aimed at improving essential medical services for local residents who have long struggled with limited healthcare access.
The facility was officially inaugurated on 23 March 2026 by the Mara Territorial Administration Council in coordination with the Mara Territorial Council and its armed wing, the Mara Defence Force (MTC/MDF).
A representative from the MTC/MDF’s Health and Education Department attended the ceremony and presided over the opening, according to local sources.
The clinic seeks to address longstanding challenges in the remote, mountainous area, where villagers often face long and difficult journeys to reach medical care.
By providing basic services closer to home, it is expected to reduce travel burdens, enable timelier treatment, and offer vital support to the community amid ongoing hardships.
The MTC/MDF has been actively involved in local development initiatives in the Mara region, including improvements to healthcare, transportation, and public services.
Chin State, home to various ethnic Chin groups including the Mara people (primarily in Matupi, Paletwa, and Thantlang townships), has been severely affected by conflict since the 2021 military coup.
Resistance groups, including factions within the Chin Brotherhood alliance of which MTC/MDF is a part, have gained control over significant parts of southern Chin State, including areas around Matupi.
In conflict-affected ethnic areas like Chin State, local administrations and resistance-linked groups have increasingly stepped in to deliver basic services, including health and education, where state systems have collapsed or are inaccessible.
This new clinic in Chakhai village represents one such community-driven effort to fill critical gaps in a region where access to timely medical care remains a persistent challenge for many residents. – Reporting by Ben
