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WHO sets up diarrhoeal treatment centres in Pakistan
UN Humanitarian agencies have received nearly 64 per cent of the funding needed to provide relief assistance to flood ravaged Pakistan, but stress the funding flow must be maintained
Girl suffering from diarrhoea
OCHA Spokeswoman, Elizabeth Byrs in Geneva, told journalists Tuesday that Pakistani authorities have put the number of people directly affected by the floods at 17.6 million. For it's part, the World Health Organization has received 43 per cent of its funding needs. .Yvette Morris reports.
WHO is establishing 60 diarrhoeal treatment centres throughout Pakistan.
This is part of a strategy to prevent epidemics, reduce deaths and restore basic health services.
WHO spokeswoman, Fadela Chaib explained the emphasis on protecting people from water-borne diseases.
She said while there were no confirmed cases of cholera to date, the disease was endemic in Pakistan.
More than half a million people had been treated for diarrhoeal diseases since the crisis began.
"All kinds of diarrhoea remain the main cause of consultation in the region, followed by respiratory infections, skin diseases and now malaria. And we have a plan to vaccinate until March 2011 for polio, measles, supplementation of Vitamin A, tetanus and other diseases. There is also a concern about that fact that half a million women are expected to give birth in the next six months and there is a need ensure reproductive health services are working in the region."
More than 400 hospitals and clinics have been damaged by the floods in Pakistan. Yvette Morris, UN Radio, Geneva.
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