MANILA, 9 October 2009—The World Health Organization, with support from the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), will provide 26 million pesos (about US$464 300) as an emergency health response to the victims of Typhoon Ondoy.
The typhoon, with the international name Ketsana, hit the Philippines on 27 September, affecting more than three million people in 12 regions, including the National Capital Region (NCR). Entire communities in these areas have been flooded. The estimated cost of damage has reached 8.3 billion pesos.The CERF assistance will target the health care of affected families in the NCR and the provinces of Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, and Rizal.
WHO will support the activities of the Department of Health (DOH) in partnership with Medecins Sans Frontieres, Save the Children and local health units. These will ensure surveillance of infectious, immunization, vitamin A supplementation, nutritional screening, safe water supply, early warning systems for outbreaks and management of cases, plus health education emphasizing that hygiene, safe water and cooking practices are essential to prevention of diseases.
''WHO is on the watch-out for an increase in cases of measles, leptospirosis, hepatitis A and diarrheal diseases," said Dr Soe Nyunt-u, WHO Representative in the Philippines. "Mental health and psychosocial support are also priority concerns.'' WHO will assist the DOH in ensuring that affected individuals have access to medical services and that they are properly referred for health care management, Dr Soe said.
The floods have damaged many health facilities, including barangay health stations, clinics and hospitals. Medical equipment, supplies and medicines have been destroyed and many of the facilities have become inaccessible to people in need of care. The health workforce has also been affected and many nurses and doctors have been unable to work.
''WHO and DOH will ensure that health facilities and agencies serving the evacuation centres and affected communities have the necessary emergency medical and health supplies and equipment to continue providing life-saving services,'' said Dr Art Pesigan of WHO's Emergency and Humanitarian Action unit. ''WHO's 2008-2009 Safe Hospitals Campaign emphasized the need to strengthen the capacity of health facilities to respond to emergencies such as that caused by Ondoy.''