Keywords
Citation
(2010), "World Health Organization", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 23 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijhcqa.2010.06223eab.001
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2010, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
World Health Organization
Article Type: News and views From: International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Volume 23, Issue 5
Meeting Haiti’s changing health needs
Edited by Jo Lamb-White
Keywords: Emergency healthcare, Basic healthcare facilities, Public healthcare systems
More than one month after the earthquake that devastated swathes of Haiti, in excess of 300,000 people are suffering from injuries and around one million are living in temporary settlements or host families after losing their homes.
Immediately following the 12 January quake, the most pressing need was to rescue people and provide life-saving care for patients suffering from major trauma, hundreds of whom underwent amputations. It was also crucial to ensure free access to medicines and provide emergency basic and secondary care.
But today, there are new health needs. The focus is on post-operative care, rehabilitating people with disabilities and injuries, and providing basic and primary health care services, such as maternal, child and mental healthcare, controlling chronic diseases and restarting vaccination programs. Controlling diseases and ensuring clean water is available are also critical for the hundreds of thousands of people living in temporary shelters ahead of the coming rainy and hurricane seasons. Strengthening coordination of health partners and making medicines and other supplies available are also up utmost importance to the health sector response and recovery.
To respond to these needs for the next 12 months, the humanitarian community launched a revised Flash Appeal. WHO and partners are seeking more than US$100 million to implement projects to meet these needs.
For more information: www.who.int