Health conditions improving in IDP camps - WHO

Disease surveillance activities in the welfare centres in Northern Sri Lanka continue to improve, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a recent report.

According to the WHO there were few cases of measles and mumps but no new cases have been reported from the IDP sites.

The Ministry of Health (MoH) and WHO remain vigilant about emerging and re-emerging diseases among IDPs and other health issues such as malaria, dengue, and tuberculosis (TB) as well as H1N1 infections. The MoH has a very comprehensive health information gathering system in the camps through the Cheddikulam coordination centre. Therefore the MoH is tracking the morbidity and mortality patterns amongst the IDP population, and responding immediately as needed, WHO said.

The Ministry has also established new immunization guidelines in the camps for children and the health workers, it said.

WHO said the Sri Lankan government has developed a 180-day plan for rehabilitation and resettlement of IDPs. Based on this, the Health Ministry has also developed its own plans for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the health facilities in the North.

WHO along with other organizations including UNICEF, UNFPA, IOM, ICRC, MSF (Holland), MTI, Handicap International, Muslim Aid, Sarvodaya, SewaLnaka, MercyMalasiya, and CARE International assured assistance to Health Ministry's efforts to provide health care services to the IDPs.
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