Dr Margaret Chan, World Health Organisation (WHO) Director General on Wednesday called on President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr and discussed matters relating to medical facilities in flood affected areas. Dr Hussein A. Gezairy, WHO Director of the Eastern Mediterranean Region, Dr Guido Sabatinelli, Representative WHO, Dr N'ima Abid, Medical Officer IEPI/PEI WHO were also accompanying her during the meeting.
Pakistan side included M. Salman Farooqui, Secretary General to the President, Chairperson BISP Farzana Raja, Lieutenant General Nadeem Ahmed (Retd), Chairman NDMA, Khushnood Akhter Lashari, Secretary Health and other senior officials. They discussed steps for rehabilitation of medical facilities and controlling outbreak of diseases in flood hit areas.
The President appreciated WHO not only for its swift response in meeting the challenges of the floods in collaboration with local authorities but also for sensitising the international community and drawing their attention to the precarious health issues in the flood affected areas.
He lauded the contribution of WHO in the establishment of Disease Early Warning System and Diarrhea Control Centres in the flood affected areas. Dr Margaret Chan during the meeting expressed satisfaction over the improvement of medical facilities and outreach to the affected people in the areas worst hit by the devastating floods.
President Zardari also said that there was a need for WHO to remain engaged in the early recovery and rehabilitation phases in the aftermath of the floods to ensure that disease control work is sustained. The control of dengue fever in collaboration with WHO and ongoing efforts by the government in controlling this viral disease were also discussed. Dr Margaret Chan assured that WHO would continue its efforts to provide medical facilities to the people of Pakistan in collaboration with local authorities not only in the flood affected areas but also in other areas where health of people was at risk.
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