WHO gives emergency health kits, funds to quake-hit Nepal

NEW DELHI: The World Health Organization (WHO) has handed over four emergency health kits comprising medicines and medical supplies and $ 1,75,000 to meet the immediate health needs of quake hit people of Nepal.

"Within hours of the tragedy, WHO disbursed medical supplies to cover the health needs of 40,000 people for three months. These supplies are in the form of inter-agency emergency health kits and were given to hospitals in Nepal treating the injured," WHO South-East Asia Regional Director Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh said.

WHO also made available $ 1,75,000 to the Ministry of Health and Population, Nepal, as the first tranche of South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund (SEARHEF).

The funds are aimed at meeting immediate financial needs and to fill critical gaps in the aftermath of a disaster.

Simultaneously, WHO is supporting the Ministry of Health and Population, Nepal, to continue to assess the health needs of affected people and damage to health facilities.

Senior officials from WHO Regional office are in Kathmandu to reinforce WHO Nepal Office's support to the Government of Nepal.

The WHO emergency kits disbursed yesterday include medicines, disposables and instruments. Each kit can meet the needs of 10,000 people for three months. Each kit has a basic and supplementary unit.

The basic unit is intended for use by primary health care workers with limited training. It contains non-injectable drugs, medical supplies and some essential equipment, accompanied by simple treatment guidelines.

Basic equipment also has a complete sterilization set and items to help provide for clean water at the health facility.

The supplementary unit contains drugs, renewable supplies and equipment needed by doctors working in first- or second-referral health facilities.