(Islamabad/New York, 2 July 2009): “The everyday people of Pakistan are the real heroes of this current crisis in Pakistan,” said Martin Mogwanja, United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Pakistan. “They are opening the doors of their often modest homes, sharing what they have, no matter how little, no matter how it strains their often modest budgets. True humanitarians, they set an inspiring example of extraordinary generosity for the whole world,” he added, speaking at a press conference in Islamabad today. He noted that he hoped this example is followed by the governments of this world, whose continued urgent support is desperately needed.

Amid security operation in the different areas in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan, resulting in internally displaced persons living in camps and host communities, World Health Organization has donated ambulances to the 5 conflict effected districts with massive influx of IDPs. WHO Representative, Dr Khalif Mohammad Bile and Mr Raul Thomas, EMRO Director of Administration and Finance handed over the first batch of seven ambulances to Mr. Ameer Haider Hoti, Chief Minister NWFP in a small ceremony on 3 February, 2010. The Provincial Health Minister, Chief Secretary Health and Departmet of Health officials were also present at the occasion. These ambulances, equipped with emergency supplies and equipment will support the emergency case load and referral cases in Mardan, Charssada, Peshawar, Swabi and Nowsehra districts of the province.

The Chief Minister appreciated the hard work and zealous efforts of WHO in the IDP crises response in providing support to Government health facilities in the camps, host communities and outreached areas of the province.

In order to cater for the needs of medicines, supplies and equipment for emergency response in IDPs crises, the warehouse built by World Health Organization in Peshawar and Mardan districts have been instigated to perform its functions . Dr Khalif Bile, WHO Representative, Mr Raul Thomas, EMRO Director of Administration and Finance, Mr Mr. Fazal Mehmood, Provincial DG NWFP, Syed Souhail Altaf Secretary Health, Department of Health and WHO officials were present at the occasion. Mr. Fazal Mehmood appreciated the efforts of WHO for supporting the health services in the mid of IDP crises in the province. These warehouses, equipped with environment/temperature control facilities will not only cover the medicine, supplies and equipment load in the respective district but will also give additional support to neighboring and out reached districts in the province.

27 June, 2009 ¦ ISLAMABAD -- The total number of internally displaced people (IDPs) by ongoing fighting in northwest Pakistan rose from 209,136 in January 2009 to reportedly more than 2 million in June, ninety percent of which are living in host communities where life-saving health care services that are either already limited or have now reached a breaking point.

Urgent support is needed to immediately fill the alarming and widening gap between increasing health needs and available health service provision in communities hosting this acute increase in numbers of IDPs. Critical shortages in medicines and staff, particularly female health workers, are already being reported from some areas.

The World Health Organization donated more than 3 million USD worth of medicines for influenza A (H1N1) to the Ministry of Health on 15 June 2009. This is part of the millions of adult courses of Oselatmivir (Tamiflu) the World Health Organization (WHO) has distributed to countries needing assistance to protect its people against the new disease.

WHO Representative in Pakistan Dr Khalif Bile Mohamud formally handed-over 200,024 adult doses of Oseltamivir to be used in treatment of Influenza A (H1N1) to Pakistan Health Minister Mr Mir Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani.

DAWN: Peshawar, June 12: The World Health Organization will strengthen the provincial health system to enable it to cope with the challenges posed by the influx of people from the conflict zone.

NWFP health director-general Dr Fazal Mabood told Dawn on Friday that the health department needed WHO's support in the areas of strengthening human resources, provision of medicines, training of health professionals, hospitals and other gaps that had been hampering provision of better treatment facilities to displaced people in and outside camps.

From 28-30 May 2009, the National Immunization Day (NID) campaign has been carried out by the Ministry of Health with the support of the World Health Organization, UNICEF and other health partners. A total of 1,762,629 children under five years of age in hosting districts of NWFP have received the oral polio. The children in the age group 6 months to 5 years also received the Vitamin A capsules in addition to polio vaccine. This is the first time that these 0.5 million children are accessible.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with Institute of Pakistan Orthotic and Prosthetic Sciences (PIPOS), Peshawar is starting a detailed need based assessment survey for the Person With Disabilities (PWDs) residing in the camps.

A representative of WHO informed that the initial assessment has shown that the presence of both physical and sensory (hearing and visual) disabilities who have not received any type of rehabilitative services since the onset of the disability.

The AWD outbreak simulation exercise was conducted on 27 May in two health facilities in Jalozai camp, Nowshera and one health facility in Kacha Gari camp, Peshawar, where total 75 WASH and health workers, from various organizations working in the camps participated in the simulation exercise.

The main objective of the exercise was to examine and make a comprehensive overview of the viability of the IDP camps AWD outbreak response plan; pinpoint the main strengths and weaknesses of the response plan; improve preparedness for and response to any diarrheal diseases outbreaks; and provide accurate recommendations to camp health staff based for effective response to any outbreaks.

The participants guided on the overall interdependency of the various activities and deliverables of the plan and identified critical bottle necks. Overall camps population is facing serious hygiene and sanitation problems and there is a shortage of hygiene kits, especially soaps for personal hygiene.

A space has been reserved for the establishment of the AWD treatment center in Jalozia-4 camp health facility.

Two Interagency Emergency Health Kits (IEHK) have been provided by HELP-Germany. One kit was sent to Yar Hussain IDP Camp, Swabi and the other kit was given to CAMP NGO working in Jalozai-III IDP Camp, Nowshera.