ENGLISH DEYEA NEWS

HIGHLIGHTS

The number of cases of acute diarrhoea has fallen across both Yangon and Ayeryarwady Divisions.

To prevent and control vector borne diseases, larviciding activities are being carried out in Yangon, Bogale and Labutta.

Two cases of dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) have been reported, including one death.

HEALTH ASSESSMENT AND SITUATION UPDATE

The Village Tract Assessment (VTA) findings will indicate the impact of cyclone Nargis on health, nutrition, water and sanitation and identify gaps for programme intervention.

The preliminary findings from the health sector data of the VTA provides a clear picture on the existing public health problems faced by the affected population, access to health facilities, functional status of the nearest health facility including health services, medicines availability, staffing with service providers and issues like magnitude of psychosocial and mental health ailments. The assessment also provided information on the physical status of health infrastructure.

Data collected during the assessment are still under analysis and reverification. The final report is likely to be available by 21 July 2008.

HEALTH CLUSTER RESPONSE

1. Disease Surveillance

The number of cases of acute diarrhoea has fallen across both Yangon and Ayeryarwady Division according to the Health Cluster’s Morbidity and Mortality Report for week 26 (22-28 June 2008).

There have been no outbreaks of diseases. However in two camps in Labutta sporadic cases of measles have been reported.

The weekly Bulletin reports two cases of dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) including one death. This is the first death due to DHF since the Early Warning, Alert and Response System (EWARS) was established. The larviciding programme for vector control is likely to be further intensified.

The National Health Laboratory has agreed to undertake any laboratory work required by the EWARS system provided that samples are submitted through the township medical officers. However current mechanisms for transporting specimens from the townships to Yangon have logistical limitations such as maintenance of cold chain, frequency. WHO will pursue improvements in this area as part of ongoing work to strengthen the surveillance system.

2. Health Action

WHO is working closely with the Ministry of Health in larviciding activities. The Organization supported larviciding in Yangon by providing 4000 copies of practical guidelines and 5000 kgs of the larvicide ‘Abate’. Such activities have now been expanded to Bogale.

WHO has provided technical support in training MOH volunteers for larviciding activities.

Three WHO national field officers have been deployed to Pathein, Labutta and Bogale to provide technical and coordination support to the township health offices. They will also facilitate disease surveillance activities.

WHO has assisted in the comprehensive village tract assessment through collection of data, its analysis and presenting the preliminary findings. These data are under detailed analysis including re-verification.

IFRC is running the water treatment plants units in four townships with the following capacities:

- 300, 000 liters/ day in Labutta.

- 50,000 liters/ day in Bogale (Six units, two in the town and four in villages).

- 5000 liters /hour for 15 villages of Maulamyeinkyun township.

- 6000 liters/ hour and 20, 000 liters/ hour respectively for two water plants in Dedaye.

A major constraint is the distribution of water. UNICEF is providing the boats and jerry cans for water distribution and storage.

CESVI has cleaned 132 ponds to date in 26 villages in Dedaye. It has been involved in safe water and sanitation activities in Dedaye township even before the cyclone.

Triangle GH has been involved in water and sanitation activities in Taung Kone,Taw Kha Yan (E), Taw Kha Yan (East), Taw Kha Yan(W), Ka Mar Bar and Yun Chaung, Seik Gyi villages since 23 May 2008.

HEALTH COORDINATION

The Health Cluster technical sub-groups report the following:

Mental Health

- The IASC mental Health guidelines will be circulated.

- A matrix of training materials is currently being developed.

- Common tools need to be used for assessments, which should be shared.

- From the WWW (who what where) the major gap to be identified is in the referral systems.

Sub-national coordination operational centers reported the following:

Labutta:

- Larviciding and insecticide spraying are being implemented.

- Many of the 500 villages in this township are hard-to-reach and still need strong support.

Bogale:

- Joint Nutrition and Health meetings are held and many partners are actively involved.

- Roofing sheets and tents are being provided to damaged basic health centers by UNICEF for rehabilitation.

- The southeast part of the township still lack adequate assistance in food, shelter, health and nutrition.

Pyaporn:

- Meetings are being held in the township medical office or UNICEF office.

- There are still some villages which need better access to health services.

Mawlmayingyun

- Over a hundred villages were severely affected and many of them are hard-to-reach. Relief to these areas has been limited.

Other Clusters:

Nutrition cluster

- The cluster works on strategy development on re-lactation and wet feeding modules. It plans to develop baby-friendly home delivery training to midwives with related advocacy messages.

- Guidelines on acute malnutrition management have been completed and are being circulated.

- The cluster is planning to undertake nutrition surveillance in the following areas:


- Assessing gaps in receiving Vitamin A supplementation in last six months amongst children aged 6-59 months.

- The number of children under 5 years, and pregnant/ lactating women receiving therapeutic/ supplementary feeding.