Karachi: In view of the current flood crisis, World Health Organization (WHO) will be scaling up its humanitarian response in all the affected areas in Sindh to address the health issues faced by the population displaced by the floods.
This was stated by Dr. Guido Sabatinelli, the WHO Representative in Pakistan, while speaking to the provincial Secretary Health and other senior officers of the Health Department during his visit to Sindh that concluded yesterday.
A special mission comprised of senior technical experts of the WHO Country Office and Sindh provincial sub-office visited the WHO Humanitarian Hubs in Hyderabad and Sukkur to see and hear first-hand about the health impact of the flood emergency and the organization’s operations throughout Sindh.
WHO’s Emergency and Humanitarian Assistance (EHA) team has been focusing on the provision of essential primary health care and health services to the affected population.
WHO Communicable Disease Epidemiologist, Dr Rana Kakar, stated that “Overcrowding, inadequate hygiene and poor nutrition increase the vulnerability of the affected population, and the situation continues to deteriorate with every passing day so that the risk of an overwhelming outbreak of waterborne disease is dangerously increased. Surveillance teams have already identified 57 outbreaks of diarrhea, but they were at an early stage where they could be controlled by prompt action.”
During the investigations, more than 96% of the 294 water sources tested by WHO environmental health team were found contaminated. In response, WHO provided hygiene kits, Jerry cans, water filters, water disinfection tablets and hygiene information. In view of the threat of diarrhea and cholera, WHO has strengthened some hospitals to provide diarrhea care by provision of inpatient beds and medical supplies.
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