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El Salvador + 6 more

Health Action in Crises - Highlights No. 281, 16 - 22 Nov 2009

Attachments

Each week, the World Health Organization Health Action in Crises in Geneva produces information highlights on critical health-related activities in countries where there are humanitarian crises. Drawing on the various WHO programmes, contributions cover activities from field and country offices and the support provided by WHO regional offices and headquarters. The mandate of the WHO departments specifically concerned with Emergency and Humanitarian Action in Crises is to increase the effectiveness of the WHO contribution to crisis preparedness and response, transition and recovery. This note, which is not exhaustive, is designed for operational use and does not reflect any official position of the WHO Secretariat.

EL SALVADOR

Assessments and Events

- Hurricane Ida killed at least 192 people and affected an estimated 75 000 persons, of which more than 15 000 are now housed in 140 shelters.

- The affected population includes roughly 1050 pregnant women, of which 350 are expected to deliver in the next three months.

- Twenty-five health facilities are reported damaged and there are serious interruptions in the cold chain. The MoH estimates that US$ 6 million are needed for the purchase of essential medicines.

- Respiratory infections, diarrhoeal diseases as well as skin infections and conjunctivitis are reported in the affected areas.

- On 12 November, authorities reported that 26 800 people in four municipalities were left without access to water supplies and requested assistance for the provision of safe drinking water.

- The main health priorities include:

  • the provision of health care, including mental and sexual and reproductive health care; =BE epidemiological surveillance and outbreaks control; =BE water management and environmental sanitation; =BE the management of international humanitarian relief items.

Actions

- WHO/PAHO mobilized experts in crisis management, communication, logistics, mental health and logistic support (LSS/SUMA) and supported the national civil defence authorities and the MoH to install and implement the LSS/SUMA. A PAHO expert was deployed to assist the National Coordinator.

- WHO/PAHO is coordinating with UN partners the purchase and distribution of water in areas left without supplies.

- WHO/PAHO supported the MoH to implement a mental health protection plan

- WHO/PAHO provided 100 000 water purification tablets from the regional humanitarian depot in Panama (UNHRD) and is purchasing priority medicines to strengthen the provision of health care in affected areas.

- WHO/PAHO released US$ 170 000 for emergency response operations.

INDONESIA

Assessments and Events

- The earthquake destroyed 10 hospitals, 53 community health centres, 137 supporting community health centres, 15 village clinics and two pharmaceutical warehouses.

- The MoH has deployed more than 4800 health workers to the affected sites.

- Functioning health facilities need to be supported while recovery and reconstruction activities progress. Urgent needs include: =BE psychosocial support and mental health; =BE epidemiological surveillance; =BE specialized care for the injured and long term physical rehabilitation;

  • safe water, water quality surveillance and solid waste management for health facilities.

Actions

- WHO and Health Cluster partners continue working with the authorities, sending trained health staff and medicines.

- The WHO regional and country offices deployed four staff members to set up the operational platform with the MoH. WHO has eight staff members in Padang and six in affected district to support coordination and information management with partners.

- WHO requested US$ 600 000 Rapid Response grant from the CERF Secretariat to assess the safety of health facilities, deliver supplies, ensure specialized care for injured people, strengthen disease control, improve health services for mothers and children, and deliver mental and psychosocial health support.

- WHO's activities are funded by its South-East Asian regional office and Norway.

PHILIPPINES

Assessments and Events

- As of 16 November, more than 382 500 people lived in flooded areas in 871 barangays in the National Capital Region (NCR), Regions III, IV-A, IV-B and V.

- As of the same date, 3382 cases of leptospirosis and 249 related deaths have been reported in Regions I, II, III, IV-A, NCR and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

- Several challenges remain:

  • Several areas have limited access to medical care.
  • No 24/7 health services are available in evacuation centres.
  • Access to secondary and tertiary health care is limited.
  • Disease surveillance and reporting need to be strengthened.

Actions

- The GOARN team is consolidating its report. Mapping of affected primary centres is ongoing. Continued mobile health care services and psychosocial programme coverage is provided in affected areas through the efforts of partner agencies and NGOs.

- The Revised Philippines Flash Appeal was launched of 18 November, seeking US$ 143 million to provide relief and early recovery assistance to 4.2 million affected people. The health sector is requesting US$ 11.5 million (up from 7.8 million) of which US$ 5.4 million are for WHO to provide assistance to affected populations.

- WHO's emergency response activities are funded by the CERF and ECHO.

SOMALIA

Assessments and Events

- Several outbreaks of acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) continue to affect Somalia. Between 1 and 8 November:

  • Banadir Hospital reported 79 cases (95% in children under five) and two deaths.
  • Lower Shabelle notified 34 cases (73% of under-five,) with Afgooye accounting for 65% of all reported cases.
  • Lower and Middle Jubba reported 121 cases (76% of under-five).

Between 11 and 14 November, 91 AWD cases and seven deaths (CFR 7.7%) were reported by the Burtinle Hospital, in the Nugaal Region of Puntland. Children under five accounted for 68% of cases and 71% of deaths.

- Facilities in Lower Shabelle also reported 877 acute respiratory infection cases as well as 22 suspected measles cases, all which were reported in Merka.

- In Lower and Middle Jubba, Kismayo Hospital reported 46 injured between 1 and 8 November, bringing the total number of casualties since the conflict started escalating in October to approximately 516 casualties and 80 deaths.

Actions

- WHO, WFP and World Vision are operating a field hospital to treat people affected by the ongoing conflict in Lower Jubba. WHO is providing medical and surgical supplies and on-the-job training for health workers in trauma case management, emergency obstetric care and communicable disease reporting. Since 11 November, 36 health workers were trained and 145 patients treated.

- WHO provided 10 trauma kits to hospitals serving conflict-affected populations (Baidoa, Banadir, Merka, Buale, Bossaso, Nugaal, Hargeisa and Burama hospitals). WHO also pre-positioned 2000 doses of meningitis vaccine, 1500 of yellow fever vaccine and 1500 doses of seasonal influenza vaccine.

- To strengthen AWD preparedness in the Afgooye Corridor, WHO assessed two outpatients department run by Islamic relief as well as two mother and child centres run by Muslim Aid, two run by the Somali Red Crescent Society and one run by COSV. Assessments include case detection, review of reporting mechanisms and staff sensitization on transmission and treatment.

- In response to the AWD outbreak in Butinle, a MoH/Puntland, Merlin and WHO outbreak investigation and response team is conducting case management and prevention activities.

- With CERF funding, WHO has established three new outpatients departments in the Afgooye Corridor with Muslim Aid and provides supplies to other facilities operated by Muslim Aid and other partners.

- WHO's emergency activities are funded by the CERF and the Humanitarian Response Fund.