The World Health Organisation has called for quick response to protect health and deliver essential health services, while warned against wave of disease and death following catastrophe, linked to climate change of flooding.
WHO Director General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus who disclosed in his statement on Pakistan flooding on Saturday, said water supply is disrupted, forcing people to drink unsafe water, which can spread cholera and other diarrhoeal diseases.
According to him, “I am deeply concerned about the potential for a second disaster in Pakistan: a wave of disease and death following this catastrophe, linked to climate change, that has severely impacted vital health systems leaving millions vulnerable”.
Report revealed that close to 33 million people have been affected by the weeks-long torrential monsoon rains and flooding in vast areas, killing close to 1,500 people, injuring nearly 1,600 and bringing devastation not seen in decades to Pakistani people.
WHO DG stated that health centres have been flooded, their supplies damaged, and people have moved away from home which makes it harder for them to access their normal health services.
Adding that, “All this means more unsafe births, more untreated diabetes or heart disease, and more children missing vaccination, to name but a few of the impacts on health”, Ghebreyesus said.
He revealed that nearly 2000 health facilities have been fully or partially damaged. “But if we act quickly to protect health and deliver essential health services, we can significantly reduce the impact of this impending crisis.
“Health workers in Pakistan are stretched to the limit as they do all they can to deliver critical services amid the destruction”, WHO DG said.
Ghebreyesus further revealed that the government of Pakistan, UN and NGO partners, WHO is setting up temporary health facilities and medical camps and helping to re-supply medicines to other health centres.
“We are increasing disease surveillance so outbreaks can be detected early and people can get the treatment they need”.
WHO DG said: “Government and partners are providing safe drinking water and access to toilets to lower the risks of disease from dirty water.
“WHO provided water purification kits, oral rehydration salts to manage diarrhoeal diseases. Partners are also helping ensure safer housing and bed nets to protect against mosquitoes and the diseases they carry”.
He noted that US$10 million released from the WHO Contingency Fund for Emergencies which enabled delivery of essential medicines and other supplies.
Ghebreyesus thanked donors for their prompt response to the flash appeal. “We continue to assess the scale of the crisis and will issue a revised appeal shortly. I urge donors to continue to respond generously so that, together, we can save lives and prevent more suffering”.