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7 January 2005, Bangkok: WHO remains on high alert for
possible disease outbreaks in the wake of the tsunamis that swept the region.
Dr Samlee Plianbangchang, Regional Director for South-East Asia Region warns:
“We are not yet in the aftermath stage of this disaster. Even though the
flood has receded, disease can still inundate millions of people in the
region.”
Dr Samlee says WHO and its other UN health partners must
now focus on improving the hygienic and sanitation conditions for the
estimated 5 million people affected by the disaster. To meet the challenge,
WHO is deploying more experts in disaster response and logistics, disease
surveillance, and water and sanitation. And steps
are being taken to help train up a corps of health care workers who can help
individuals cope with the psycho-social trauma dealt them by one of the
world’s greatest natural disasters.
With the establishment of 24-hour operations rooms in
regional and country offices, WHO is working to support national authorities
in collaboration with UNICEF and other major health actors at the country and
field level. WHO’s Global Outbreak Alert and
Response Network (GOARN) has been mobilized and is currently establishing an
Early Warning Alert and Response Network (EWARN) for surveillance,
verification and response to disaster in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, the Maldives,
Thailand and India.
But Dr Samlee admits the response has not been perfect:
“I think we have responded strongly, but it is clear we have been
uneven in our response,” he admitted. “But given the wide area and the
massive numbers we are dealing with, that is inevitable.”
“But I think our successes so
far outweigh our shortcomings. And it is also clear that we are gathering
momentum to meet the next challenge facing us – the threat of infectious
diseases and the psychological devastation of the people so heavily
affected.”
Dr Samlee was speaking at a
press briefing in Bangkok.
He arrived in the city to discuss with health officials the health concerns
and to assess WHO’s future support to the Royal Thai
Government’s response to the aftermath of the disaster.
Dr Samlee has just visited
the worst hit area in Aceh
Province in Indonesia. In the next few days,
he will visit Myanmar, Sri Lanka and the Maldives for discussion with
government officials on the health challenges and how WHO can continue to
support their efforts to strengthen public health measures.
“Having just returned from Aceh, I must say that never before have the agencies of
the UN system been so united in their response. And we sense that the entire
international community is united behind us.”
“We are, in fact, inundated
with generosity and support. All of the people I met in the field doing
relief work sense that they are not forgotten. They understand that the world
wants them to succeed in saving as many lives as possible and easing the pain
of those who have survived this terrible ordeal,” told members of the press.
Dr
Samlee concluded that WHO will continue to support the urgent emergency needs
during the current phase and assured that WHO would work with governments to
assess the needs for rehabilitation of the health infrastructure. WHO will
work towards supporting governments to rebuild and strengthen the public
health system to ensure that ministries of health can effectively meet the
health needs of the people.
For further information please
contact:
DICK THOMPSON, Tel: +4179 475 5475(m), Thompsond@who.int; BOB DIETZ, Tel: +91 981 834 8942, dietzr@whosea.org; APHALUCK BHATIASEVI, Communication Officer, Tel +66-2590-1526 (o), +66-1815-1556(m). Aphaluck@whothai.org;Mrs Harsaran Bir Kaur Pandey, Tel. +91 981-002 1001, pandeyh@whosea.org
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