Health experts weary of potential disease outbreak in cyclone-ravaged country
WASHINGTON, June 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In the wake of Cyclone Nargis, Myanmar is facing a second crisis from the threat of diseases resulting from standing water, destroyed sanitation infrastructure and the lack of comprehensive medical systems. Thousands of children and those who where injured, made homeless or are malnourished following the storm are in particular jeopardy if these fast-spreading diseases are not averted early.
"These diseases are preventable and treatable, but left unchecked they will further devastate a country hit hard by limited health care, poor sanitation and unsafe water," said Paul T. Antony, MD, MPH, medical director of the Global Health Progress, an initiative sponsored by the worldwide pharmaceutical industry. "Myanmar's vulnerable population, resources and facilities cannot withstand the impact of a widespread disease outbreak, but the situation becomes almost inevitable unless we act now to prevent it and limit the broader impact."
Steps to avert disease outbreaks can be accomplished by public and private entities that can alert and educate locally-based health workers about the signs for disease, and support preparation of additional stockpiles of emergency care materials, antibiotics and medicinal treatments. Sophisticated disease transmission modeling used by aid organizations in collaboration with international pharmaceutical companies may also be used to advise in-country personnel of potential outbreak areas.
"Unlike the cyclone, we can avert this crisis," said Direct Relief International President and CEO Thomas Tighe. "Major international aid and health organizations can, and are, taking action to raise awareness at the local, national and global levels and working to gather information about diseases already appearing on the ground."
The amount of standing water and destroyed infrastructure can and will
lead to widespread disease. The other barriers to preventing the outbreak
of disease in Myanmar are four-fold:
1. Lack of systems to deliver drugs and basic medical services. There are
currently no formal systems in place to provide the preventive and
treatment services necessary to handle possible widespread disease
outbreaks. Any delivery mechanisms that existed prior to the cyclone have
been either severely damaged or destroyed.
2. Incapacitated local health care workforce. Those who were able to provide
health care services before are now either incapacitated or coping with
their own personal tragedies. The present situation also presents few
opportunities to utilize health care workers from other countries.
3. Inability to access available health resources. The widespread
destruction of transportation and communications infrastructure has
prevented people from finding appropriate medical care and from knowing
when such care might be available in their local area.
4. Poor management and integration of preventative health solutions. Myanmar
is currently systemically incapable of incorporating plans for managing
health outcomes related to the catastrophe, including implementing
clean-up and sanitation programs, eliminating standing water sources,
communicating disease prevention and treatment plans, and establishing
livelihood resumption schemes.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), acute respiratory infection, bloody diarrhea, and dengue fever have already been reported. In Myanmar, dengue season hits its peak in July, increasing the likelihood of a widespread outbreak of this serious and potentially deadly disease.
For more information about outreach in Myanmar by Direct Relief International, visit http://www.DirectRelief.org. To learn more about Global Health Progress, go to http://www.globalhealthprogress.org.
About Direct Relief International
Founded in 1948, Direct Relief International is a Santa Barbara-based nonprofit organization focused on improving the quality of life by bringing critically needed medicines and supplies to local healthcare providers worldwide. Direct Relief is one of two charities ranked by Forbes that has received a perfect fundraising efficiency score for five consecutive years and is ranked by the Chronicle of Philanthropy as California's largest international nonprofit organization based on private support. For more information, please visit http://www.DirectRelief.org.
About Global Health Progress The Global Health Progress initiative brings research-based biopharmaceutical companies and global health leaders together to improve health in the developing world. Through meaningful public-private partnerships with others in the field, including policymakers in the developed and developing world, multi-lateral institutions, non-governmental organizations, and academe, Global Health Progress is helping to shape sustainable solutions that improve the health of all people. For more information, please visit http://www.globalhealthprogress.org.
'/>"/>
| SOURCE Global Health Progress; Direct Relief International Copyright©2008 PR Newswire. All rights reserved |
Related medicine news :
1. Data from Patient Subsets of e-HEALING, a Worldwide Registry, Support Use of OrbusNeichs Genous(TM) Bio-Engineered R Stent(TM) as Alternative to Drug- Eluting Stents
2. National Association for Sport and Physical Education Partners with S&S Worldwide to Help Improve Childrens Fitness
3. Global Med Technologies(R) Extends Its Worldwide Outreach
4. Worldwide Probiotic Drink, Yakult(R), Launches in Its First Major U.S. Market
5. In Honor of Hispanic Heritage Month and Spanish Speakers Worldwide International Hyperhidrosis Society Publishes Important New Patient Booklet in Spanish
6. New USAID grant helps Georgetown meet unmet family planning needs worldwide
7. The Cardiovascular Multimedia Network (CVMD) and the International Society of Endovascular Specialists (ISES) Join Forces to Educate Practitioners Worldwide Through Electronic Media
8. Unilens Names Eschenbach Optik Exclusive Worldwide Distributor of the UniVision(R) Low Vision Lens
9. Video: Beyond the Red Door: Gildas Club Worldwide and DKNY Host Successful Benefit Event
10. Allscripts Featured in Microsoft HealthVault Worldwide Launch
11. Abortion Numbers Fall Worldwide
| Copyright © 2003-2012 Bio-Medicine. All rights reserved. ABOUT | CONTACT US | DISCLAIMER | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS AND CONDITIONS |  |