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HEALTH SECTOR COORDINATION MEETING WHO Humanitarian Assistance Office Skopje
Dr. Rebac - WHO HAO opened
the meeting, giving brief information about past week activities. UNHCR have activities
in the health sector through its main 3 implementing partners - WHO, IRC
and Handicap International for disabled IDPs. UNICEF is running regular
activities. Stress-coping summer centers are now underway in the major
IDP areas of Skopje and Tetovo. 3 summer centers work in Kumanovo; 4 such
centers work in Skopje. They offer sports, recreation, psychosocial counseling,
health education, early childhood care and development, mine awareness
activities. American Red Cross has regular activities for IDPs in Kumanovo and Skopje. IRC is running regular programs for refugees and IDPs. In Suto Orizari IRC teams that are working with refugees have been providing medical help to 46 IDPs today. In the regular (state) outpatient clinic, IDPs could not receive medical help or treatment, therefore they have been referred to IRC clinic. UNHCR representative emphasised the fact that refugees should not be mixed with IDPs. Dr Rebac noted that this is the first time that is reported that IDPs were refused to receive medical help in some state outpatient clinic. Therefore, he will check with the Director of the Health Center Skopje. In the next three days IRC will perform immunisation in the outpatient clinic Cento. Dr Rebac informed that at the Meeting in the Ministry of Health it has been decided that until the end of this month, assessment and report about the immunisation status of the IDP children will be issued. Outpatient clinic for PHC services for IDPs in Medical center Kumanovo is functioning well. Last week IRC donated certain quantity of drugs to the Medical Center. IRC representative has a meeting with the leader of IDPs in Kumanovo, Serbian nationality, who expressed disappointment with IRC doctor, and stressed that Macedonian nationality doctor, should replace IRC doctor. Dr Rebac stressed out that the only criteria for work should be professionalty, not the ethnic background of the doctor. Other IRC representative briefly informed about the
visit to Aracinovo and the meeting with the mayor. She had the possibility
to visit the ambulanta and it seams that two rooms on the first floor
are in good condition, and they only need to be adjusted for the needs
of the team. The only concern she has is the roof that is covering the
terrace, which is actual access to these rooms. She recommended an engineer
to make assessment of the roof in order to make the CARE Int is running regular activities. CARE has a project for assessment of psychological needs of IDPs in cooperation with UNICEF. ICRC has a new person appointed to follow up health issues. Dr. Rebac is very glad that ICRC representative is again present at this meeting, and he emphasised the need to have feedback from ICRC about their activities and the situation on the field, as they are mobile and can enter the conflict regions. Save the Children, UK is planning some activities in two schools (ethnically mixed) in conflict areas. They are also making psychosocial assessment of IDPs jointly with UNICEF. OCHA representative and
coordinator for UNHCR and Ministry of Labor and Social Policy will attend
this meeting in the future, in order to be informed about the situation. WHO HAO representative for monitoring of the pharmacies informed that every Friday she will make collection of weekly reports and make final report on drug consumption. WHO/UNICEF are doing supply on the central level with essential drugs kits. ART International representatives informed that they may have donors in the pharmaceutical companies and will support the health sector. They are planning to conduct training for health professionals as well. Project HOPE has no activities concerning emergency situation.  |
