LAHORE: Amid fears that the displaced children of North Waziristan may cause countrywide spread of the poliovirus, a World Health Organization (WHO) report reveals 26,438 of the kids could not be accessed for immunisation against this crippling disease during the last three-day drive.

“As many as 8,051 children were not available whereas 17,583 refusal cases meant the families still believed that the anti-polio vaccine was not safe for them,” said the report.

Initially, the WHO had reported 67,205 missed children at the end of the three-day special drive launched to target the under-five children in the huge population on the move -- 44,761 not available and 22,444 refusal cases. Later, the health workers managed access to many of those missed in the next days.

WHO raises concern at inadequacies

The OPV campaign was particularly conducted in Bannu, D.I. Khan, Lakki Marwat, Tank, Karak and Hangu besides high-risk union councils. The total target children were 581,463.

The WHO report also pointed out many other health risks/challenges stating that the NGO partners’ presence was very low to provide emergency health services to the displaced population. The health facilities were overburdened and there was low capacity to take care of extra burden of IDPs in the catchment areas, it said.

“Serious gaps existed in reproductive health and basic obstetric care in the health facilities,” the report highlighted. It said the bed nets and mosquito repellents were needed on an urgent basis along with diarrhea disease kit (DDK).

Finalised on July 1, the report had covered health conditions of IDPs which emerged from June 17 to 30. It said there was an increased trend of diarrhea and skin infections including scabies and leishmaniasis.

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Diarrheal kits and medicines for primary health were required for skin diseases e.g., Meglumin antiminate were high in demand. Also, there is dire need of TIG, anti diphtheria serum and trauma kits for IDP populations.

The report said services were provided by Women and Children Hospital, Bannu, and there’s a need to strengthen this facility in terms of provision of supplies to ensure that MCH services were fully attended without any hindrance. Detailed assessment was required to identify urgent gaps in MNCH service delivery.

“The basic infrastructure of health facilities is poor which needs immediate attention in terms of water and sanitation facilities, electricity, medicines, basic tools and equipment. Sanitation condition in the primary and middle schools (schools and colleges are allocated for IDPs) are poor and bathrooms/washrooms facilities are inadequate.

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“The reproductive health services need strengthening in terms of provision of medicines, medical supplies and trained human resources as well as training for the existing staff including LHVs, LHWs and midwife. “Low EPI coverage is one of the serious issues which need immediate attention for undertaking vaccination along with awareness campaign in IDP hosting areas,” according to the WHO report.

It said the mental and psycho social assistance as well as provision of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs), permetherine and Tamiflu were also required to meet the challenges.

The report suggested that the NGO partners needed to expand and strengthen their capacity to address urgent needs in emergency health service delivery. “The partners should start nutrition projects with a prime focus on IDP children in Bannu,” it said.

Published in Dawn, July 9th, 2014