WHO, other agencies launch US$28 million plan for health care of Myanmar cyclone victims

The World Health Organization and other agencies on Thursday launched a US$28 million (euro18 million) plan to curb disease outbreaks and improve medical care in cyclone-ravaged Myanmar over the next six months.

"We must help repair and revitalize Myanmar's health services and replace the damaged medical equipment in affected facilities," said Eric Laroche, WHO assistant director-general who is heading the coalition of more than 40 organizations.

The May 2-3 cyclone destroyed about 50 percent of health facilities in Myanmar, Laroche said. The joint plan intends to replace the destroyed facilities and "build a health care system that can withstand any future natural disasters," he said.

It still has to be determined what equipment and buildings need to be replaced or repaired first, but it is clear that a top priority is to resume immunization of children against polio and measles, he said.

The cyclone left an estimated 2.4 million people in desperate need of food, shelter and medical care. Myanmar's government says the storm killed 78,000 people and left 56,000 missing.

Health workers also are on the lookout for an outbreak of cholera or other infectious diseases.

"The main fear of everyone is any start of an epidemic, be it cholera or dengue fever or whatever," Laroche told reporters.

Although some non-governmental organizations have reported cases of cholera, the government has told WHO there are no confirmed cases. Laroche said isolated cases of cholera were less significant.

"For us what is important is to have antennas everywhere to see if there is any beginning of a small outbreak," Laroche said, adding that health officials would respond with a containment action to keep the virus from spreading.

Malaria infections are expected to increase in coming weeks because of mosquitoes breeding in standing water left by rains, and there is a need for bed nets to prevent that disease, he said.

Another fear following floods in Myanmar is snakebite, Laroche said. "So two weeks ago we sent 2,000 vials for vipers, the main variety."

He said it is "much easier" for relief workers to obtain visas since the early days after the storm and that he had been assured they will have access to the field so that they can work where needed.

"It's likely that we will get hundreds of medical teams" from Myanmar's Southeast Asian neighbors who will be deployed in the effort, Laroche said.

Already some 500 tons of medical supplies have been sent into the country, Laroche said.

An appeal for donations to pay for the new joint plan will be made later, said Laroche.