WHO steps up response to growing health needs of internally displaced persons in Anbar

Health needs of the internally displaced are being assessed Baghdad, 18 April 2015 – In response to the growing humanitarian crisis in Anbar province west of Iraq, and the displacement of thousands of Anbar residents who escaped the conflict in the provincial capital of Ramadi to Baghdad, WHO has been working closely with the Ministry of Health over the past 4 days to coordinate a rapid response to provide emergency health access to the newly displaced population reportedly stuck in Rudhwaniya area, waiting to cross Al Rudwaniya Bridge.

Thousands of displaced people are assembled on the other side of the bridge in Amiriyat, Al Falluja City. Health needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in this city are being met by WHO's health partner United Iraqi Medical Society, which runs the primary health care centre for IDPs, which was constructed and is supported by WHO.

Six ambulances have been deployed at Rudhwaniya to address the immediate health needs and provide required health care. Two well-equipped mobile clinics, procured in June 2014 by WHO with financial support of Saudi Arabia, will also arrive at the site shortly.

It is over a year since the last case of polio was reported in Iraq, and the new campaign aims to vaccinate every child under 5 throughout the country.“Together with the Ministry of Health, WHO is embarking on a vaccination campaign among the population in transit at Al Rudhwaniya area in Baghdad to be able to vaccinate all children under-5 with oral polio vaccine and children above 15 years with measles vaccine,” said Dr Jaffar Hussain WHO Representative in Iraq. “All patients requiring hospital care from this geographical point are transported to Yarmouk hospital in Baghdad by the ambulances located in the said area for this purpose,” he added.

In the last 48 hours, a first response to most urgent health needs was ensured by WHO and the Ministry of Health of Iraq through provision of 6 ambulances, 2 of which were dispatched on the 15 April and 4 on 18 April 2015. The ambulances, which were deployed around BizBiz Bridge in Rudwaniya area, were equipped with emergency health staff comprising a doctor and 1 or 2 paramedics each.

“Life-saving medicines and oral polio vaccines have been administered and the vaccination of eligible children has started but the movement of displaced populations crossing the borders is very rapid,” explained Dr Jaffar Hussain.

Meanwhile, a Ministry of Health/WHO assessment mission, including a WHO public health officer and a team of health professionals from the Baghdad-Kharkh Directorate of Health in the Ministry visited the Rudhwaniya area and bridge on 18 April to evaluate the health situation of the newly displaced population there.

Related link

Keeping Iraq polio free: immunization campaign targets 5.8 million children

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