Informing humanitarians worldwide 24/7 — a service provided by UN OCHA

Bangladesh + 10 more

Health Action in Crises - Highlights No. 190 - 07 to 13 Jan 2008

Attachments

Each week, the World Health Organization Health Action in Crises in Geneva produces information highlights on critical health-related activities in countries where there are humanitarian crises. Drawing on the various WHO programmes, contributions cover activities from field and country offices and the support provided by WHO regional offices and headquarters. The mandate of the WHO departments specifically concerned with Emergency and Humanitarian Action in Crises is to increase the effectiveness of the WHO contribution to crisis preparedness and response, transition and recovery. This note, which is not exhaustive, is designed for internal use and does not reflect any official position of the WHO Secretariat.

KENYA

- The Cluster Approach has been activated.

- On 9 January, a health sector-wide coordination meeting was organized, attended by all health partners.

- The current crisis is also impacting on humanitarian operations in Uganda, Southern Sudan, and Somalia.

Assessments and Events

- Latest figures on the toll of the violence that followed the 27 December election indicate more than 500 people killed, 250 000 displaced in camps and 500 000 also directly affected. The situation remains critical in Rift Valley, Western and Nyanza provinces, as well as in the slum areas of major cities.

- The most direct health impact of the violence are physical and psychosocial trauma, including cases of rape. The indirect impact is mainly defined by the need of assistance for the IDPs: at this stage, their location, precise number and priority needs are still to be properly assessed.

- The provision of health care is also affected: health workers feel insecure and there are shortages of fuel. Hospitals lack the capacity to handle the sudden caseload of wounded. Already, there are reports of patients on antiretroviral therapy unable to access treatment.

- The immediate health needs include in-depth assessments and diseases surveillance, emergency surgical, medical and primary health care services in the affected areas, as well as supplies and logistics.

Actions

- Crisis centres are being established in hospitals in Nairobi and Kisumo and additional health workers are being mobilized.

- The MoH has established a health coordination structure with sub-committees for curative services; public health, nutrition, HIV and TB; logistics; and monitoring, evaluation and communication. WHO has assigned technical officers to each working group and supports the coordination of the increasing number of health partners.

- The MoH requests WHO's assistance to distribute 20 tons of medical supplies.

- WHO is reinforcing its in-country capacities to respond to the humanitarian needs and to coordinate health partners in the field and has received a statement of interest from the Government of Australia.

- In 2007, WHO's emergency activities in Kenya were supported by the CERF. Current WHO are funded by a new Rapid Response Grant and the Organization is participating in the Flash Appeal.