Khartoum – On 5 May, on the occasion of Hand Hygiene Day, WHO and the Federal Ministry of Health of Sudan called on health workers, patients and public to practise good hand hygiene.

At the event organized at Khartoum Dental Hospital, the status of hand hygiene practices in Sudan and main challenges in this area were highlighted by federal and state health officials.

Highlights

• On the morning of 16 May, cyclonic storm Mahasen made landfall in Patuakhali district in southern Bangladesh moved forward to the northeast away from Myanmar, weakened and dissipated on 17 May.

• Heavy rain and fierce winds that flattened mud and straw huts and forced the evacuation of more than 1 million people.

• Government reported 14 deaths, 65 injured persons.

• 1,327 Medical teams from DGHS – MoHFW are on standby to provide emergency treatment.

HIGHLIGHTS

In this reporting period WHO,

• Participated in a field visit to Internally Displaced Persons camp in Jaac, North Aweil county Northern Bahr el Ghazal state.

• Supported the State Ministry of Health (SMOH), Jonglei state with medical evacuations of three injured patients from Pibor county and surgical management of the gunshot wound casualties from communal clashes in the county.

• Supported all the State Ministries of Health to plan for the National Immunization Days for polio.

How flooding affects health

Floods are the most common natural disaster in the WHO European Region, occurring in 50 of the 53 countries in the WHO European Region in the past decade. More frequent, extreme rainfall is projected; it may result in more floods, of greater intensity and various types. Flooding has extensive and significant effects on health, spanning the short and long terms and ranging from drowning and injuries to infectious diseases and mental-health problems.

Le Représentant de l’Organisation mondiale de la Santé (OMS) au Niger, Dr Assimawè PANA, a procédé le samedi 11 mai 2013 à la remise officielle au Ministre de la Santé publique (MSP), M. Soumana Sanda d’un lot de médicaments, de matériels médicaux et informatiques d’une valeur de 767.753.469 FCFA.

Link: Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin - Disease early warning system and response in Pakistan, Volume 4, Issue 18

Highlights

Epidemiological week no. 19 (5 to 11 May 2013)

• Measles: This week a total of 37 alerts investigated. 403 measles cases were reporting from 17 districts.
Vitamin‐A drops provided to all the suspects and district health teams took action to improve vaccination in affected areas.

• 64 districts and 1758 health facilities have reported to DEWS this week 19, compared with 66 districts with 1913 health facilities shared weekly data in week 18, 2013 to the Disease Early Warning System (DEWS).

Highlights

Epidemiological week no. 18 (28 Apr to 4 May 2013)

• Measles: This week a total of 91 alerts investigated. 425 measles cases were reporting from 23 dis‐ tricts. Vitamin‐A drops provided to all the suspects and district health teams took action to improve vac‐ cination in affected areas.

• 66 districts and 1913 health facili‐ ties have reported to DEWS this week 18, compared with 65 dis‐ tricts with 1962 health facilities shared weekly data in week 17, 2013 to the Disease Early Warning System(DEWS).

Les statistiques de l’OMS montrent une diminution de l’écart entre les pays ayant la meilleure et la pire situation sanitaire