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HEALTH SECTOR COORDINATION MEETING WHO Humanitarian Assistance Office Skopje
Maria Cristina Profili Head of
Office WHO HAO
ICRC representative stressed that according to the information they received form the team that went in the field, nobody has visited Lipkovo to make the assessment. Also for Radusa, ICRC was asked to provide one doctor for the Ambulanta, but according to the information present in the WHO report, there are 2 doctors and 1 nurse working there. Dr Rebac talked to the person from the Medical Center
Kumanovo that had visited Lipkovo, together with representative of MCIC
on October 05, 2001. They found no medical staff in the Ambulanta that
day, so they spoke to the people around and fill the questionnaire according
to their observation that day. IRC is running regular programs for refugees and IDPs.
The number of patients in the Primary health care service for IDPs in
Kumanovo is decreased last week with average 65 patients/day. In Aracinovo,
the number of patients is approximately 40/day. The pathology is upper
respiratory tract infections and chronic diseases. IRC is still waiting
for written approval by WHO to buy some medicines locally. American Red Cross is continuing with health education programs for IDPs in host families and collective centers. Almost 1000 people during October and more than 2500 since the beginning in September participated in those activities, mostly IDPs hosted in families in Kumanovo. Health education activities will continue for IDPs hosted in two hotels in Kumanovo and also for Skopje. ICRC team has visited village Matejce last week. The doctor that used to work in the Ambulanta before the conflict started to work again. ICRC has provided basic equipment (physician kit), so the doctor can provide basic medical services. ICRC team will visit villages Otlja and Nikustak this week. There is a doctor working in the Ambulanta that travel on daily basis from Kumanovo. It is easier to travel now, because UNHCR has organised bus that is going on daily basis from Kumanovo to the villages. Also it is easier for people that live in those villages to travel to Kumanovo if they need special services. IOM has finished the field assessment on health care needs. IOM team went to Tetovo and met the Director of the Medical center. It was agreed to pay special attention on tuberculosis. Another meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, with the Director of the Special hospital for TB and lung diseases in Lesok. IOM did the same assessment in Kumanovo and will start an epidemiological survey on screening for TB and public awareness. AAR Japan has regular activities in Kumanovo, Skopje and Tetovo. Their teams have given medical help to more than 500 patients last week. UNHCR have activities in the health sector through its
main 3 implementing partners - WHO, IRC and Handicap International. Handicap
International has organised distribution of diapers for disabled people.
Dr Rebac pointed that there is a need to readjust the services according to the needs. At the moment, noone is aware how many people are IDPs, so WHO will monitor and evaluate the situation after receiving figures from Macedonian Red Cross. Dr Kristin Vasilevska as representative of the Epidemiology and statistic department of the Medical Faculty Skopje pointed that international community, especially agencies that have activities in the health sector have to be aware of people coming back from neighboring countries and moving from place to place, since they can transfer communicable diseases. WHO has program for eradication of polio and acute flaccid paralysis. People that work on this program reported problems in regions of Tetovo and Kumanovo that were mostly affected by the conflict for a longer period. Handicap International has finished the distribution
of 100 000 diapers for IDPs and returnees. Three partner NGOs have distributed
them to the beneficiaries identified in Tetovo, Kumanovo and Skopje. Handicap
International is waiting the shipment of wheel chairs, diapers, crutches
and other orthopedic supplies.  |
