WHO embarks on implementing its Gaza Emergency Operational Plan
13 January 2009 

As Israel’s military operation in Gaza enters its third week, the civilian population is bearing the brunt of the violence with more than 880 people killed, over 4000 injured and more than 28 116 displaced persons with limited support services.  Health services are exhausted, movements highly restricted, electricity is very limited and difficulty are faced for the evacuation of the most critically wounded to say a few. To respond to the situation, WHO is implementing its emergency operational plan which aims to address all critical health concerns to reduce preventable mortality and morbidity caused by the widening conflict.

Read the full WHO Emergency Operational Plan | More

Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Regional Director Dr Hussein A. Gezairy, and Health Minister Dr. S.M. Amin Fatimie launched the country wide polio vaccination campaign targeting 7.7 million children in Afghanistan’s 34 provinces. The campaign was conducted on 11-13 January 2009.  

Dr Gezairy emphasized that WHO and its partners are committed to eradicate polio from Afghanistan.  
President Karzai and Dr Gezairy together honored the families of polio medical officers, Dr Shamsul Haq Kakar and Dr Mamoon Tahiri, who were killed in a suicide attack last year in Spin Boldak. The families of the victims received financial support from WHO.  

In his visit to Afghanistan, the Regional Director looked into the situation of health facilities in Kabul and held meetings with top UN and health officials. In his meetings with Afghanistan’s health officials, Dr Gezairy assured WHO’s continuing commitment to improve the Afghanistan’s health system and respond to Afghans’ health needs through the Ministry of Public Health.  
 

The Ministry of Health and Population (MOH), Egypt, reported a new confirmed human case of avian influenza on 12 January 2009.
The case is a 21 months old female from 6th October Governorate, Kerdasa District. The symptoms started on January 9. The patient was admitted to Imbaba Fever Hospital on the 10th with fever, cough, vomiting, diarrhea and rapid respiration. The case was immediately suspected as avian influenza and given medical treatment, Tamiflu, 40 hours after the onset of symptoms.
Investigations showed very close contact with sick and dead poultry since one week. Currently, the patient is in a good health condition.
This brings up the total number of confirmed human cases of avian influenza in Egypt to 52 with 23 deaths.