It has been a week since WHO Field Incident Manager, Dr Reiko Tsuyuoka arrived in Attapeu Province to support the Ministry of Health on field coordination. The Ministry of Health at all three levels- central, province and district has provided good support in sharing and updating information on a daily basis at the Health Coordination Point.
With proper registration of deployed local and International Emergency Medical Teams in Sanamxay District, clear mapping of who is doing what, where has ensured better use of resources.
Disease surveillance has been enhanced in six camps in Tamayout, Ban Bok and Udomxay villages; and Sanamxai kindergarten, primary and secondary school that is currently home to 6,000 people. The early warning system has picked up an increase in diarrhoea, influenza-like illness, and dengue and rickettsia cases. There are also increases in number of patients with skin diseases (e.g. rashes).
Mental health screening has been conducted at four camps, Sanamxai kindergarten, primary and secondary school and Oudomxay village. Mental health experts from WHO together with doctors from Mahosot Hospital and team from Thailand has together provided psychological first aid to more than 1300 people. Antenatal and postnatal care Is provided at five sites including Sanamxai kindergarten, primary and secondary school, Udomxay and Ban Bok villages.
Vaccination activities were provided in five camps: Sanamxai kindergarten, primary and secondary school, Udomxay and Ban Bok villages. The vaccines administered provide protection against diseases including tetanus, diphtheria, polio, hepatitis B, influenza, Japanese encephalitis, measles, rubella, pertussis (whooping cough), Haemophilus influenza type B (Hib) and tuberculosis.
Pest control fogging for the removal of mosquitoes was conducted in all camps. Eight-hundred bed nets from Ministry of Health and 1200 bed nets received from International Organisation for Migration have been distributed in all camps.
Sixteen health students’ volunteers has been supporting waste disposal in the camps for removal of potential mosquito breeding sites. Pharmaceutical students helped with the processing of medicines provided by donors.
Other supplies includes 1200 hygiene kits, 50 antenatal care kits, water quality testing kits, menstrual health kits, rapid diagnostic tests, vaccine refrigerator, community tent, glucose bags and IV poles have been sent to Attapeu Province.
The Ministry of Health has requested additional medicines, equipment and supplies and this will be coordinated and sent to Attapeu Province. Field coordination has improved with the Incident Management Structure in place since last week.