Pakistan Earthquake and WHO for Pakistani Health

Recently, on 29th October, 2008 there was an earthquake in Pakistan. A report shows that at least 20 000 people displaced by the earthquake. Earthquake magnitude was 6.4. That people who has been displaced are in trouble and facing cold weather, waiting for cold weather etc. The earthquake was in the southwest Baluchistan province.

According to news about 160 people has been died. Many people has been missed and their homes are damages and destroyed. Efforts of rescue for that people are underway to search for their survivors.

In this conditions WHO announced to send major help for people health saving. According to WHO, “two truckloads of essential medicines and supplies for 50 000 people for three months to the most-affected districts of Ziarat and Pishin. WHO is also flying trauma supplies stored at the United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot in Dubai to treat 400 people into the region. The two affected areas remain accessible for convoys carrying relief supplies and the rural health centre in the town of Kawas in Ziarat is functioning as the referral hospital.”

There are major problem with Pakistani people health. In this situation World Health Organization is ready to help that people with sending 1000 tents and 1500 blankets. Along with country’s National Disaster authority has send ambulances, medicines and medical teams to the affected part of earthquake.

Immediate health services are needed in that areas due to lack of shelter to cold weather, access to safe food and water and the low immunization coverage. Especially, in that reason for measles ant tetanus.

WHO announced to assess the affected area for the health needs. WHO has sent there their polio officers also to save the health of Pakistani people and their response are in positive way.

I think not only WHO but also people should also should aware about Pakistani people health. World people should aware about health of Pakistani and should sent them health accessories to save their life.

Summary of World Health Report 2008 From WHO

A book has been published on World Health Report of 2008. The report has been collected by WHO and here is the book summary:

“As nations seek to strengthen their health systems, they are increasingly looking to primary health care (PHC) to provide a clear and comprehensive sense of direction. The World Health Report 2008 analyses how primary health care reforms, that embody the principles of universal access, equity and social justice, are an essential response to the health challenges of a rapidly changing world and the growing expectations of countries and their citizens for health and health care.

The Report identifies four interlocking sets of PHC reforms that aim to: achieve universal access and social protection, so as to improve health equity; re-organize service delivery around people’s needs and expectations; secure healthier communities through better public policies; and remodel leadership for health around more effective government and the active participation of key stakeholders.

This Report comes 30 years after the Alma-Ata Conference of 1978 on primary health care, which agreed to tackle the “politically, socially and economically unacceptable” health inequalities in all countries. Much has been accomplished in this regard: if children were still dying at 1978 rates, there would have been 16.2 million child deaths globally in 2006 instead of the actual 9.5 million. Yet, progress in health has been deeply and unacceptably unequal, with many disadvantaged populations increasingly lagging behind or even losing ground.

Meanwhile, the nature of health problems is changing dramatically. Urbanization, globalization and other factors speed the worldwide transmission of communicable diseases, and increase the burden of chronic disorders. Climate change and food insecurity will have major implications for health in the years ahead thereby creating enormous challenges for an effective and equitable response.

In the face of all this, business as usual for health systems is not a viable option. Many systems seem to be drifting from one short-term priority to another, increasingly fragmented and without a strong sense of preparedness for what lies ahead.

Fortunately, the current international environment is favourable to a renewal of PHC. Global health is receiving unprecedented attention. There is growing interest in united action, with greater calls for comprehensive, universal care and health in all policies. Expectations have never been so high.

By capitalizing on this momentum, investment in primary health care reforms can transform health systems and improve the health of individuals, families and communities everywhere. For everyone interested in how progress in health can be made in the 21st century, the World Health Report 2008 is indispensable reading.”

The book name is Primary Health Care now more than ever and published by Nonserial Publication as a World Health Organization report of 2008. The book theme is on basically, “For everyone interested in how progress in health can be made in the 21st century”.

Source From : World Health Report 2008