Côte d'Ivoire - US$ 1.9 million urgently needed to restore health services for 2.2 million people
25 MARCH 2011 | GENEVA - During the next 6 months, WHO plans to continue implementing measures to provide access to health services for more than 2 million people in the severely war-affected communes of the capital and in the western part of Côte d’Ivoire.
US$ 1.9 million is sought to maintain essential staff in health facilities and to provide needed medical and logistic supplies for the normal functioning of the health system.
Health situation worsening
Hounien, Blolequin and Toulepleu district hospitals covering a population of around 382 000 are completely closed due to looting.
Currently, the two referral hospitals of Man and Guiglo and the four district hospitals of Bangolo, Biankouma, Danane and Duekue, are still operational but have a limited supply of medicines because of a disruption in the supply chain of the Ministry of Health. The private sector has also been affected, partly because of the European Union’s restrictive measures against Côte d’Ivoire adopted on 14 January 2011 that caused the diversion to Dakar of shipment with 51 containers with medicines bound to private retailers in Côte d’Ivoire.
Medical staff working in the facilities of central, north and western regions have not received salaries for the past three months, creating a shortage of qualified personnel.
WHO response to date
WHO has also been supporting the population in the affected areas of the western part of the country by providing essential drugs and supplies to the functioning health facilities.
Due the intensification of the conflict in the capital Abidjan, this support is now needed for the severely affected communes of Abobo, Anyama and Yopougon.
Since the escalation of the crisis, WHO’s presence in the field has been reinforced through the recruitment of two international public health experts for needs assessment, support to local authorities and health coordination.
Necessary measures
The main action points of a 6-month WHO project are:
- to maintain essential staff who would otherwise not continue reporting to work through financial support.
- to provide needed drugs, supplies and logistic support for six months to help the functioning of the regional referral hospitals in Man and Guiglo, the district hospitals of Bangolo, Biankouma, Danane and Duekoue, and the reopening of those in Zouan Hounien, Blolequin, Toulepleu.
- in Abidjan, the Abobo, Yopougon and Anyama communes will be supported to continue providing essential health services to affected people who have limited access to health services.
- to encourage partners to use existing health facilities for a comprehensive provision of health care instead of creating mobile clinics.
The progressive extension of the project is planned once information becomes available in other areas.
For more information
Tarik Jasarevic
Media and Advocacy Officer
Health Action in Crises
WHO, Geneva
Telephone: +41 793 676 214
Email: jasarevict@who.int