The World Health Organization (WHO) is worried about the potential for a “second disaster” of water-borne diseases to strike the nation, particularly in Sindh’s flood-stricken areas.
In a statement posted late Saturday night on Twitter, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged donations to “save lives and prevent more suffering” as a potential “wave of diseases and deaths” awaited the nation already struggling to deal with the devastation brought on by the catastrophe.
The head of the international public health organization also emphasized how polluted water consumption in flood-affected areas was causing an increase in diseases like cholera, malaria, dengue, and diarrhea.
People have migrated away from their homes and health centers have been flooded, damaging their supplies, and making it more difficult for them to get regular health care, the author stated.
“All this means more premature births, more diabetes and heart disease going untreated, and more kids not getting their shots,” he continued.
Ghebreyesus emphasized that taking immediate steps to avert the calamity might greatly lower the risk.
He added that the WHO would be establishing health facilities and medical camps all around the country. “Health workers in Pakistan are stretched to the limit as they do everything they can to give crucial services amid the wreckage,” he said.
He also mentioned that the organization would be stepping up disease surveillance in the area to stop epidemics.
In order to help the country, he continued, “[the] WHO quickly provided $10 million from the WHO Contingency Fund for Emergencies.”
Additionally, he expressed gratitude to the donors for their “quick response” to the UN’s flash plea.
