ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (BNO NEWS) — The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday said it is coordinating the response of health partners and supporting Pakistani authorities after facing the worst floods in the country’s history.

WHO will be sending medicines and related health supplies capable of treating more than 200,000 people to the affected areas in the northwestern region of the country. The worst floods on record in Pakistan are placing the health of hundreds of thousands of people at risk, with a high threat of water-borne disease outbreaks and immense damage to health facilities.

The organization has been working with the Pakistani Ministry of Health, National Disaster Management Authority, Provincial Departments of Health as well as partner healthcare providers within the Health Cluster network of international and local organizations.

WHO has additionally sent large shipments of medicines and supplies to treat people for diarrhea, respiratory infections, wounds, and other health conditions. To ensure people have access to clean, safe supplies of drinking water, providing 102,000 aqua tablets and 4600 water purifying sachets to health facilities in Peshawar and Nowshera.

Controlling water-borne diseases are major health concerns at the moment, including diarrheal diseases and respiratory infections, treating the injured, helping to ensure the quality of clean drinking water and ensuring public access to health facilities with the emphasis on increasing the number of female health workers.

About 46 of Pakistan’s 135 districts have been affected by the flooding, and at least 39 health facilities have been destroyed, resulting in a loss of tons of medicines. There is a significant need for additional medical and related materials to treat people affected by the humanitarian emergency, and to immunize children, particularly against polio and measles.

With static and mobile medical teams providing outreach services to affected areas especially with maternal, neonatal and child health, nutrition and psychosocial support, over 15,000 patients, many of whom were suffering from diarrhea had been treated by the end of 2 August.

A disease outbreak early warning system is active and, as yet, no outbreaks of diseases have been confirmed, however concern of the disease outbreaks remains high.

Despite international efforts, the scale of the emergency means more medical supplies will be needed, and an initial assessment conducted by the United Nations agencies include urges psychosocial support to the affected population; hygiene promotion interventions – providing water purification tablets, safe water, water chlorination; tents for temporary health facilities; strengthening the referral system to higher levels of health care; and vaccination campaigns.

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