PESHAWAR, Oct 18: The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday sent 40 teams of medical specialists, surgeons and environment experts to the affected areas in Mansehra, Bagh and Muzaffarabad.

“WHO in collaboration with the ministry of health has sent 40 teams of surgeons and public health/environmental specialists to affected areas to help the needy people in the quake-affected areas,” said a WHO official.

A separate group of 100 students and 30 epidemiologists from Aga Khan University will be trained, he said.

Officials said that some 200 physicians from Karachi and Punjab were waiting to be sent to the affected areas.

Meanwhile, WHO in collaboration with the health ministry and UNICEF has launched a measles vaccination campaign in Muzaffarabad. The campaign will be extended to other affected areas. The vaccine is being administered to children aged between 9 months and 15 years with vitamin A supplements.

WHO has also delivered nine emergency health kits to cater to the need of 270,000 people for one month. Of these, four kits have been delivered to Mansehra and three to Muzaffarabad with the remainder being held in Islamabad.

WHO in collaboration with the ministry of health and the Italian government is also sending five diarrhoea kits which provide enough medicines and supplies to treat up to 500 cases.