PESHAWAR, Aug 15: The World Health Organisation has urged the provincial government to activate the early warning system in the flood-hit areas of the province to avert any possibility of outbreak of epidemics.
This was stated by WHO’s country chief Dr Khalif Bile Mohmud during a visit to the flood-hit district of Mardan on Tuesday.
Accompanied by Federal Health Minister Naseer Mohammad Khan, he formally handed over an emergency medical kit to the executive district officer (EDO), health, Mardan, which can cater to the health needs of a population of 10,000 for a period of three months.
According to WHO officials, they had held workshops in Charsadda, Nowshera, Chitral and other districts after heavy floods inundated these areas in June last year. The workshops, officials said, were aimed to build the capacity of local doctors regarding development of disease early warning system (DEWS) in their respective areas.
“The doctors in these districts are yet to put in place DEWS due to which the danger of the outbreak of epidemics loom large,” they said, adding that under the DEWS the doctors were required to maintain a chart concerning the number of patients and their diseases on weekly basis send reports to the director-general health services.
This is meant to get an idea about the prevalence of different diseases among the people, an official said, adding that if there is any indication about increase in the number of skin, diarrhoea, gastroenteritis, cholera, etc, then the health department in collaboration with the world health agency could undertake remedial measures.
“In post-flood situation, we need to activate the DEWS as soon as possible. Presently, we do not know about the number of patients suffering from different diseases,” said WHO officials.
They said that they were also planning to hold a two-day workshop on DEWS for Mardan-based doctors and health professionals because the week-long flood water had paved the way for outbreaks of epidemics along with water-borne ailments.
They said that the outbreak of epidemics in the flood-affected districts has begun to emerge but without the availability of solid statistics about the diseases it was difficult to devise strategies.
The recent torrential rains and flash floods caused havoc, reportedly killed 192 people, damaged 18,027 houses and injured some 198 persons in 23 districts of the NWFP.
In Mardan District, the Kalpani stream periodically plays havoc with the lives and property on its heavily-populated banks. It left a trial of death and destruction on a large scale as 51 people died and 27 persons were injured, while 8,407 houses were damaged.
While briefing WHO officials, the EDO, health, Mardan, informed that 20 emergency medical camps had been established in the affected parts of the district, providing emergency health services to affected people round the clock.
To prevent major outbreaks, mass vaccination against communicable diseases is in progress, 40,000 people have been vaccinated till date. The medical team deputed from Islamabad is working in collaboration with the District Health Management.
Minor gastroenteritis outbreaks have been reported from various parts of the district. At least 265 patients have been admitted during the last one week. Stool samples have been collected and sent to a laboratory for further investigation.
The Federal Health Department has provided ORS, cholera kits, insecticides and 500 impregnated bed nets.
Federal Minister Naseer Mohammad Khan said that the federal government would not let the affected people alone in these trying times and would provide all sort of equipments and medicines according to the demand of the patients.
He urged philanthropists, NGOs and donor agencies to extend their full support to cope with health emergency.
The minister appreciated the WHO for provision of Emergency Health Kit and said that whenever there has been a health emergency WHO has responded quickly.
Later on the delegation visited various relief and medical camps established in the affected areas of district Mardan.