The World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged the provincial government of NWFP to activate the disease early warning system (DEWS) in the flood-hit areas of the province to control the outbreak of likely epidemics.
This was stated by WHO's country chief, Dr Khalif Bile Mohmud during a visit to the flood-hit district of Mardan on Tuesday. Accompanied by Federal Health Minister, Naseer Khan, he formally handed over emergency medical kit to the executive district officer (EDO), health, Mardan, which could cater to the health needs of 10,000 populations for a period of three months.
According to the WHO officials, they had held workshops in Charsadda, Nowshera, Chitral and other districts after the heavy flood inundated these areas in June last year. The workshops, officials said were aimed to build the capacity of the local doctors regarding development of DEWS in their respective areas.
"The doctors in these districts are yet to put in place DEWS, due to which the danger of the outbreak of epidemics loom large," they said, adding that under the DEWS, the doctors were required to maintain a chart concerning the number of patients and their diseases on weekly basis send reports to the director-general health services.
This was meant to get an idea about the prevalence of different diseases among the people, official said, adding that if there was any indication about increase in the number of skin, diarrhea, gastro-enteritis, cholera, etc, then the health department in collaboration with the world health agency could undertake remedial measures.
"In post-flood situation, we need to activate the DEWS as soon as possible. Presently, we do not know about the patients suffering from different diseases," said WHO officials. They said that they were also planning to hold a two-day workshop on DEWS for Mardan-based doctors and health professionals, because the week-long flood water had paved the way for outbreaks of epidemics along with water-born ailments.
They said that the outbreak of epidemics in the flood-affected districts has begun to emerge, but without the availability of solid statistics about the diseases, it was difficult to devise strategies.
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