Programme areas
Emergency Preparedness and
Humanitarian Action
Increased
cholera threat
in Pakistan
15 August 2010
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Photo by Syed Haider Ali/WHO |
Following the recent floods in Pakistan and rumours of confirmed cases of cholera WHO has sent emergency health kits, including cholera kits, to cover the needs of 1.8 million people for one month in flood-affected areas of Balochistan, Gilgit-Biltistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh.
Floods have damaged or destroyed health facilities in four provinces in the country. The leading causes of morbidity in affected areas include acute diarrhea, acute respiratory tract infections (both upper and lower), skin infections and malaria. The international community has deployed medical teams and donated essential medicines to support the humanitarian work currently being undertaken in flood-affected areas.
:: Pakistan health cluster
:: Weekly epidemiological bulletin - Flood response in Pakistan
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Spots
Regional Director's
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Pakistan floods (Arabic
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English)
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:: Maps
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Number of AWD cases reported from flood affected districts of Punjab province as of 11 August 2010
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Infrastructure status of health facilities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province as of 9 August 2010
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AWD alerts and outbreaks in flood affected districts from 30 July to 9 August 2010
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Communicable diseases reported from flood affected districts of Punjab province as of 7 August 2010
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Communicable diseases reported from flood affected districts of Sindh province as of 7 August 2010
WHO responds to health needs in Pakistan floods
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August, 2010 ¦ ISLAMABAD/CAIRO/GENEVA -- The worst floods on
record in Pakistan are placing the health of hundreds of
thousands of people at risk, with a high threat of water-borne
disease outbreaks and immense damage to health facilities. The
World Health Organization (WHO) is coordinating the response of
health partners and supporting Pakistani authorities by sending
medicines and related health supplies capable of treating more
than 200,000 people to the affected areas in the northwestern
region of the country.
Major health concerns at the moment are the control of
water-borne diseases, including diarrhoeal diseases and
respiratory infections, treating the injured, helping to ensure
the quality of clean drinking water and ensuring public access
to health facilities with the emphasis on increasing the number
of female health workers.
About 46 of Pakistan's 135 districts have been affected by the
flooding. At least 39 health facilities have been destroyed,
resulting in a loss of tons of medicines. There is a tremendous
need for more medical and related materials to treat people
affected by the humanitarian emergency, as well as to immunize
children, particularly against polio and measles.