2,100 children among displaced families vaccinated against measles - more needs to be done to support those displaced by violence
On Tuesday, 12th January in Munda, Lower Dir district of the North West Frontier Province, Pakistan, MSF and Department of Health staff started a measles vaccination campaign for the displaced people under 15 years of age. In three days, 2,100 children were vaccinated by three teams located in different areas around Munda camp. The vaccines and cold chain were provided by the Department of Health and MSF teams conducted the vaccination.
The Munda IDP camp, located in Lower Dir of Pakistan's North West Frontier Province. Sept 09
Photo by Jodi Bieber
Since November 2009, new waves of people fleeing violence in Bajaur Agency arrived in Lower Dir, where MSF has been supporting internally displaced families staying in Munda camp and in a building at the market place. Tents were set up to accommodate about 450 families in the camp. Clean water points, latrines and showers were also set up by MSF to help those families as well as an additional 4,500 people staying in the market place better cope with their critical situation. Basic items such as blankets and cooking kits were distributed as well.
MSF medical teams currently provide free medical care to both displaced and local people in Munda, as all have been directly affected by the conflict. Currently, the displaced population represents up to 40% of the total population of Munda.
“In December, we carried out a rapid survey among families to check their measles vaccination status,” explains Dr Ahmed Mukhtar, medical coordinator for MSF projects in Pakistan. “We found out that very few children had been vaccinated. Within a population weakened by poor living conditions and staying in very crowded places, an outbreak of measles can spread very quickly and have severe health consequences, especially for children. For this reason, all children between 6 months and 15 years of age had to be vaccinated as soon as possible .”
Still, the living conditions of the displaced families who have found shelter in the market place are very harsh. “This building currently shelters more than 4,500 people,” explains Ahmed Mukhtar. “In an overcrowded space like this one, disease outbreaks can take place such as acute diarrhoea and cholera. Furthermore, the building itself represents a safety hazard, as it is only half built."
MSF is currently looking into the possibility of opening a new camp in order to address the needs of the displaced. “There is an urgent need to set up a proper camp for these people,” adds Dr Mukhtar. “This will help us arrange shelters for families and provide them with adequate access to clean drinking water, latrines and showers.”
Since 1998 MSF has been providing free of charge medical assistance to Pakistani nationals and Afghan refugees suffering from the effects of armed conflicts, poor access to health care and natural disasters in NWFP, FATA, Balochistan and Kashmir.
MSF chooses to rely solely on private donation for its work in Pakistan and does not accept funding from any government.