Plans for ‘effective healthcare’ afoot

2022-10-09 15:53:55 By : Ms. Nancy Li

Body of youth found lying in pool of blood in mosque

Haleem granted interim bail in govt land case

WHO chief says flood-hit areas face growing disease problem

World Health Organization’s (WHO) Country Representative Dr Palitha Gunarathna Mahipala on Saturday assured that essential healthcare services will be provided in flood-affected areas.

In a media briefing on WHO’s participation in relief work in flood-hit areas, he said that the WHO was working on a plan to assist in future preparedness for having effective healthcare systems.

The WHO country head said his organisation was fully aware of the devastation caused by the recent floods in Pakistan. He said the flood caused serious damage to health service delivery which resulted in varied health risks.

He added an upward trend was observed in affected areas for various diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera, malaria, dengue fever, skin infections and typhoid.

Under the leadership of national and provincial authorities, WHO has promptly acted with its partners and took urgent steps to ensure the continuation of essential health services delivery and was supporting the government of Pakistan for health systems recovery through the build back better approach," he added.

He maintained that tremendous work was done by healthcare workers in the flood-affected areas. He also appreciated the federal and provincial governments for the provision of basic healthcare services to the flood victims.

He said keeping in view the flood devastation, WHO has expanded operations on the ground by establishing three operational hubs at Nasirabad, Sukkur and Hyderabad, and 10 emergency operation centres in flood-affected areas in Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He added that WHO has provided support worth US $618,048.08 million in terms of essential medicines, emergency stockpiles, medical supplies, water purification kits, tanks, tents and sachets. Among provinces, support has been distributed in response to flood emergency, he said.

Dr Palitha said WHO was supporting more than 2,000 medical camps to ensure that people have access to basic and essential health services and added that WHO has repurposed mobile health teams toward flood-affected districts to conduct outreach and facility-based medical services, including maternal, neonatal, and child health (MNCH), psychosocial and nutritional support.

He said that the WHO was also ensuring women's access to safe deliveries.

The referral systems have been supported including for women who have complications of pregnancy and those with medical or surgical emergencies. 

COMMENTS Replying to X Saved ! Your comment will be displayed after the approval. Error ! Error! Invalid Email. Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive. For more information, please see our Comments FAQ

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ

Price of status quo will be devastating: COAS

Records biggest gain of 3.9% on expectation of foreign currency inflows

West pushes Pakistan to ‘vote against Russia’ at UN

Diplomatic sources say US is certainly keen that Islamabad abandons its policy of ‘neutrality’ on Ukraine conflict

Woman gets husband married to his ex-lover, trio lives under one roof

The man reportedly had a long-distance relationship with another woman

Rs2 trillion wiped off public debt

Rupee appreciation helps reduce country’s external debt to Rs17.4tr

Price of status quo will be devastating: COAS

'Don't worry about right or wrong': Audio leak features Imran talking about 'horse trading'

PTI leader says nation is alarmed at the moment, wants 'us' to win in any way

Records biggest gain of 3.9% on expectation of foreign currency inflows

Pakistan may miss IMF targets

Global lenders not in the mood to give substantial concessions on agreed conditions

Maryam meets Nawaz in London after three years

PML-N leader to return in a month; to hold political consultations with father

Riz Ahmed, Malala join ‘Joyland’ cast for flood relief fundraiser in London

Cop taken into custody for fatally shooting flood victim

Remembering 2005 earthquake amid the 2022 floods

Sindh wildlife department proposes ban on bird hunting amid floods

Hepatitis E vaccination during floods and monsoon rains

World Bank to provide $2 billion in flood relief to Pakistan

Nine members of a family die as roof collapses in Chilas

Two terrorists killed in North Waziristan operation

Protests grip Iran as rights group says 19 children killed

Pakistan won’t approach Paris Club for debt rescheduling, says Dar

‘Man-eater’ tiger that killed nine shot dead in India

Iran state TV hacked with image of supreme leader in crosshairs

One On One: Hasan Rizvi

Price of status quo will be devastating: COAS

West pushes Pakistan to ‘vote against Russia’ at UN

Woman gets husband married to his ex-lover, trio lives under one roof

Rs2 trillion wiped off public debt

Of endless laughter and sweet reunions: 'The Legend of Maula Jatt' cast talks about magnum opus

There can be no economic miracle in Pakistan!

Remembering 2005 earthquake amid the 2022 floods

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, redistributed or derived from. Unless otherwise stated, all content is copyrighted © 2022 The Express Tribune.