WHO sets up 19 nutrition stabilisation centres in flood-hit areas
Displaced people walk on flooded highway, following rains and floods during the monsoon season in Sehwan, Pakistan, September 16, 2022. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
The World Health Organisation (WHO) will continue to support the Sindh health department for controlling the spread of malaria, and water-borne diseases and to establish 19 Nutrition Stabilisation Centres (NSC) to mitigate the effects of malnourishment in children.
According to an official of WHO, 2,000 health facilities have been damaged in Sindh due to recent rain-induced floods which are 12 per cent of total health facilities in the country.
He said that the WHO was supporting flood relief operations in Sindh and gave 30 vehicles to provide medical facilities and 13 boats to reach areas still under water.
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He said that WHO is supporting health service deliveries in Sindh flood-affected areas by providing essential medicines, medical equipment and supplies, and nutritional supplements as well as renovating and refurbishing damaged health infrastructure in the province, coordinating closely with the department of health.
He said that the floods and rain emergency has caused widespread losses to lives and property and the most affected area was health infrastructure.
He said that the WHO also handed over essential medicines and supplies to the Sindh health department in the WHO Sukkur hub.
The official said that WHO was playing an active role in relief and rehabilitation efforts for the flood-affected people in Sindh and added that with the support of WHO, the Sindh health department has been able to establish many health camps and reached areas and people still under water.
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He said that the health authority has established camps to cater to over 10 million affected people in the province with support from the WHO.
THQ hospital Rohri was also given essential equipment for the labour room and gynae ward, and essential medicines and nutritional supplements were provided to Sheikh Zaid Women and Children Hospital Larkana.