computertranslation
WHO fears polio outbreak in Ukraine
September 9th 2014
"After a month in the country will not vaccines" against any diseases, stated the representative of a special agency of the UN in the field of health
GENEVA, September 9. Itar-Tass Ilya Dmitryachev /.
The World Health Organization (WHO) fears polio outbreak in Ukraine. Told reporters Doris Nitzan, special representative of the UN agencies in the field of health in Ukraine.
"We are concerned about the possibility of outbreaks of polio," - she said, explaining that "a month in the country is not vaccines" against any diseases. "The number of children we will have to instill is enormous," - said Nitzan.
According to her, before the start of the crisis in the east of the country "fully vaccinated against polio were less than 50% of the children."
According to WHO, the last outbreak of the highly contagious viral disease occurred in Ukraine 30 years ago. "As soon as the first recorded case of polio, it would mean that there are about 200 cases that were not diagnosed directly, but after the first case the international community will help quickly and, hopefully, to a large-scale epidemic that will not come," - resulted in possible scenarios representative of the organization.
"We have a very specific plan, we work with them, the only thing we need - a means to provide more vaccines," - she said.
In mid-August, WHO appealed to donors to provide $ 14 million to help Ukraine. However, funding for this special fund is of great complexity. At the moment, attracted only $ 40 thousand.
Among other diseases that it is important to ensure that the country's population immunization, WHO experts called measles, tetanus, mumps, rubella, mumps.
As explained by Nitzan, today in Ukraine there is no vaccine stocks. "If you look at the leading medical centers in Kiev, you can still find something, but reserves to meet the needs of the health system is not" - said the expert.
In the WHO state that in such a difficult situation, Ukraine was primarily due to the civil war that broke out in mid-April in the east. At the same time, they note that an additional factor was the weakness of the system of Ukrainian health care in recent years.
"This crisis has found the health care system of Ukraine in the middle of the reform process", - said Nitzan. Superimposed on this and other factors, the expert explained, citing the example of a measles outbreak in the Ukraine in 2008, when the WHO and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) has provided the country immunization, but faced with a powerful antivaktsinnoy campaign.
"People were scared of vaccines and for many years did not want their children vaccinated," - she said, stressing that Kiev was trying to convince people to make the necessary vaccinations.
According to the WHO, as a result of shelling during the fighting in the east of Ukraine 32 hospitals completely incapacitated, 17, hit by shelling, but continue to operate. Besides attacks Slovyansk, Kramatorsk, Lugansk and Donetsk have been, and doctors, and coaches "ambulance". As a result, fearing for their lives, about 70% of health workers left the Luhansk and Donetsk regions. "Ukrainian health needs are enormous," - said Nitzan.
According to her, in the most vulnerable are people who find themselves in areas where fighting is taking place, as well as internally displaced persons, the number of which, according to the UN, has reached 260 thousand. Persons.
The situation in Ukraine. Chronicle of events. September 9
Itar-Tass
WHO fears polio outbreak in Ukraine
September 9th 2014
"After a month in the country will not vaccines" against any diseases, stated the representative of a special agency of the UN in the field of health
GENEVA, September 9. Itar-Tass Ilya Dmitryachev /.
The World Health Organization (WHO) fears polio outbreak in Ukraine. Told reporters Doris Nitzan, special representative of the UN agencies in the field of health in Ukraine.
"We are concerned about the possibility of outbreaks of polio," - she said, explaining that "a month in the country is not vaccines" against any diseases. "The number of children we will have to instill is enormous," - said Nitzan.
According to her, before the start of the crisis in the east of the country "fully vaccinated against polio were less than 50% of the children."
According to WHO, the last outbreak of the highly contagious viral disease occurred in Ukraine 30 years ago. "As soon as the first recorded case of polio, it would mean that there are about 200 cases that were not diagnosed directly, but after the first case the international community will help quickly and, hopefully, to a large-scale epidemic that will not come," - resulted in possible scenarios representative of the organization.
"We have a very specific plan, we work with them, the only thing we need - a means to provide more vaccines," - she said.
In mid-August, WHO appealed to donors to provide $ 14 million to help Ukraine. However, funding for this special fund is of great complexity. At the moment, attracted only $ 40 thousand.
Among other diseases that it is important to ensure that the country's population immunization, WHO experts called measles, tetanus, mumps, rubella, mumps.
As explained by Nitzan, today in Ukraine there is no vaccine stocks. "If you look at the leading medical centers in Kiev, you can still find something, but reserves to meet the needs of the health system is not" - said the expert.
In the WHO state that in such a difficult situation, Ukraine was primarily due to the civil war that broke out in mid-April in the east. At the same time, they note that an additional factor was the weakness of the system of Ukrainian health care in recent years.
"This crisis has found the health care system of Ukraine in the middle of the reform process", - said Nitzan. Superimposed on this and other factors, the expert explained, citing the example of a measles outbreak in the Ukraine in 2008, when the WHO and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) has provided the country immunization, but faced with a powerful antivaktsinnoy campaign.
"People were scared of vaccines and for many years did not want their children vaccinated," - she said, stressing that Kiev was trying to convince people to make the necessary vaccinations.
According to the WHO, as a result of shelling during the fighting in the east of Ukraine 32 hospitals completely incapacitated, 17, hit by shelling, but continue to operate. Besides attacks Slovyansk, Kramatorsk, Lugansk and Donetsk have been, and doctors, and coaches "ambulance". As a result, fearing for their lives, about 70% of health workers left the Luhansk and Donetsk regions. "Ukrainian health needs are enormous," - said Nitzan.
According to her, in the most vulnerable are people who find themselves in areas where fighting is taking place, as well as internally displaced persons, the number of which, according to the UN, has reached 260 thousand. Persons.
The situation in Ukraine. Chronicle of events. September 9
Itar-Tass
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