A month has passed since the fateful night of the #AttapeuFlood, where many have lost their homes and livelihoods. The flood displaced about 7000 people in Sanamxay District; many of these affected people are currently housed in one of seven temporary shelters that were set up in the area.
International aid continues to trickle into the country; and a second wave of flooding is anticipated in Attapeu Province. The government and the international communities reaffirm their commitment to help those in the flood affected area ride over this disaster.
Prof Assoc Dr Bounkong Syhavong, Health Minister chaired the Health Emergency Operation Centre meeting, and he said “We are in this together with the people of Attapeu Province, the health sector has focused our efforts on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) for disease prevention, we are monitoring communicable diseases, food safety, quality of health care, deficiency of vitamin A and malnutrition. The strong support we have received from our donors and partners in the past month have contributed to improved coordination and better use of resources. I would like to thank the staff for their hard work and sacrifices made.”
The people living in these shelters are going through a difficult time, and many agencies including WHO, IOM, and international aid organizations from Thailand and Malaysia has been working to provide psychosocial support for the community.
WHO Representative to Lao PDR, Dr Juliet Fleischl said “We cannot imagine the impacts on these people’s lives in the wake of such loss and devastation, WHO mental health expert has been supporting Mahosot Hospital clinicians in equipping them to help people in distress, especially those with suicidal thoughts to cope again.”
This is one aspect of the work requested by the Ministry of Health to WHO in the aftermath of the floods. Other areas of support provided included field coordination, where WHO staff assisted to map out all the government staff and international organization in the field. This helped to identify the gaps in term of the type of medical care required. Most of the patients have common cases of diarrhoea, flu-like disease, cough and fever.
Disease outbreak surveillance is in place with the Field Epidemiology Training students deployed to the health facilities and shelters to monitor for 15 communicable diseases. To date, more than 3500 people have sought health care services, and a cumulative number of 800 cases for influenza, dengue, diarrhoea, fever and cough were monitored and reported. Specimen was collected for some severe cases and tested for dengue, rickettsia, H5N1 and tuberculosis.
To ensure that the people in these shelters are provided with the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response, Ministry of Health is following the guidelines for WASH, to ensure that affected individuals have access to at least 15 litres of water per person per day.
The Ministry of Health Namsaat and WHO joint team is taking water sample and checking for arsenic and coliform bacteria in water. Household water treatment such as chlorine tabs, filters and educational messages to use of boiled or treated water and safe storage were provided to ensure that water is clean and safe. The camps now have segregated spaces for families, and also sex-segregated latrines. Incinerator construction and sharp waste management support (supply and equipment) are also planned to ensure proper disposal of medical waste in all health posts.
Dr Reiko Tsuyuoka, WHO Incident Manager who has been deployed to Attapeu Province for coordination of foreign medical teams, surveillance and response, is now on a second supervision visit back to the Sanamxay District. She said “The Ministry of Health has demonstrated strong leadership in this response; they have called for partners meeting to coordinate and align the work of partners and donors. The Provincial Health Department received the needed support and guidance from the Minister, in ensuring that much needed health service provision does not get disrupted.”
WHO staff conduct pre-deployment briefing for health staff travelling to remote areas