Every public health emergency is an opportunity to learn, prepare better for future and innovate. In 2015 a massive earthquake in Nepal damaged or destroyed many health facilities. Responding to the situation, WHO put together medical camp kits (MCKs) to ensure continuity of primary healthcare services. The MCKs are now part of WHO South-East Asia Region’s emergency and preparedness measures and pre-positioned in Member countries for use during any emergency.
In Bhutan MCKs are being used as flu clinics in all seven districts as part of COVID-19 response.
Photo credit: WHO Bhutan
The flu clinics have been set up some distance away from the health care centres to ensure physical distancing between routine patients attending health centres and those with flu or COVID-19 symptoms.
“The kits were supplied based on the needs and vulnerability of the districts and are being used for OPD, pharmacy, laboratory for testing and resting area,” said WHO Representative to Bhutan, Dr Rui Paulo de Jesus.
The complete MCK can be used as a temporary health facility structure to provide in-patient and out-patient services. They have provisions for male and female wards, staff and consultation rooms. The MCKs are solar-powered, contain water and sanitation facilities and can be assembled within 24 hours in the event of any emergency. WHO has also provided trainings on assembling the MCKs.
Prone to natural disasters, WHO South-East Asia Region has been prioritizing scaling up emergency preparedness for over a decade. Emergency Risk Management is one of the Regional Flagship Priorities.Read more about How is WHO responding to COVID-19