MUZAFFARABAD, Dec 11 (APP): Director
General of the World Health Organization (WHO) DR. J.W. Lee on Sunday said
that there was no major threat of epidemics in the quake stricken areas
of Azad Kashmir as the situation was under control and immunization campaign
had already begun to prevent the people especially the kids from diseases.
He was addressing a press conference at the President House here after
a day long visit to the quake hit capital of Azad Kashmir. Federal Minister
of Health Dr. Naseer Ahmed Khan, Dr. Hussain Jazari, Dr. Khalif Bile Regional
and Country Directors of WHO also accompanied him.
WHO chief said that "there was
no major outbreak of missals, pneumonia and other diseases. Our emphasis
in the beginning was to avert the deaths and sufferings, especially by
diarrhea". AJK Minister for Health Ch. Masood Khalid, Secretary AJK
Health Major General Abdul Malik, Director General Health Dr. Kh. Sahbbir
Ahmed were also present on the occasion. Dr. Lee said, the acute phase
is now over and this is the time for us to work together in reconstruction
and rebuilding of damaged structures. Appreciating the efforts being carried
out successfully by the Ministry of health, AJK health department, Unicef
and WHO, he said he was glad to see the measures taken by the Govt. UN,
and other agencies.
On the occasion the Federal Health Minister Dr. Naseer Ahmed Khan briefed the mediamen about the efforts being carried out by the Federal Government in collaboration with the WHO, AJK government and other concerned agencies to help protect the affectees from the diseases and providing them every possible health facility immediately after the October 8 earthquake. Earlier, the WHO chief visited the quake affectees camps set up at Thoori Park, where the delegation visited the different camps and met with the affectees.
The WHO chief was briefed by the health officials DHO Muzaffarabad Dr. Sardar Mehmood Ahmed Khan about the facilities being provided and measures adopted for the control of diseases through immunization campaigns. The delegation also visited the Abbas institute of medical sciences where Executive director Dr. Basheer Rehman Kanth briefed the WHO chief and his entourage. The WHO chief was also shown the under construction incinerator (hospital wastes disposal unit) being built at a cost of $2500 as all technical help and assistance and finances have been provided by the WHO.