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Health Emergencies Newsletter
Issue No.21: 23.02.2023
TOP STORY
Statement by Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe
First and foremost, on behalf of all of us at the WHO Regional Office for Europe, and our WHO Country Office in Türkiye, I would like to reiterate our heartfelt condolences to the people of Türkiye and Syria.
Your suffering is immense. Your grief profound. WHO stands with you in your hour of need – and always.
As of now, more than 31 000 people have lost their lives to the earthquakes in Türkiye. The number of injured – almost 100 000 people.
Across the border in northwest Syria, the death toll is nearly 5000. All of these figures will likely rise.
In response to the devastating earthquakes impacting Türkiye and the Syrian Arab Republic, the World Health Organization delivered 72 metric tons of trauma and emergency surgery supplies, including treatments, to both countries to support ongoing response efforts.
A first charter flight departed to Türkiye on 9 February carrying 37 metric tons of life-saving supplies, and a second flight is scheduled to deliver 35 metric tons of supplies to the Syrian Arab Republic today.
In total, these life-saving supplies from both flights will be used to treat and care for
100 000 people as well as for 120 000 urgent surgical interventions in both countries.
The earthquakes in south-eastern Türkiye, the worst in more than 80 years, have not only caused a huge loss of life in both Türkiye and Syria, but also led to thousands of injuries, displacement of people from their homes and substantial damage or collapse of numerous buildings, including at least 15 hospitals. Many more health facilities have also been significantly affected.
The Emergency Medical Team Coordination Cell (EMTCC) in Türkiye is now overseeing the work of 29 approved EMTs from 22 countries, with the priority being to support the hospitals that have been damaged in the quakes, as well as those dealing with large numbers of trauma patients.
This Flash appeal outlines the health situation in the two countries following this humanitarian disaster, the main threats to health, the WHO response since the earthquakes hit and priorities for addressing the health impacts in both countries.
Details of WHO’s response priorities to support the populations affected are provided, together with the funding requirements to address the immediate and urgent health needs by area and overall. These needs continue to evolve based on ongoing damage assessments.
Donations in support of WHO’s work following this emergency can be made through the WHO Foundation.
Statement by Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe
Good morning from Ukraine – where I’m on my fifth visit within the past year, against the backdrop of a devastating 1 year of war.
I am always amazed that, despite the unforgivable attacks on health-care services – now approaching 780 in the past year, despite the fatigue, stress and exhaustion of the health workforce, Ukraine’s health system remains so remarkably resilient.
It’s a testament to its heroic workforce, sustained political commitment and consistent budget support for health.
Data and evidence that the Ministry of Health and WHO have been gathering in recent months are providing greater clarity regarding the challenges that must be tackled urgently and the priorities that lie ahead – these include mental health, rehabilitation and community access to health services.
During his 5th visit to Ukraine in the past year, Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, reiterated the importance of strengthening mental health and psychosocial support services (MHPSS) for millions impacted by the ongoing war.
That was just one of the key messages emanating from Dr Kluge’s meetings with the Minister of Health of Ukraine, Viktor Liashko, and the First Lady, Olena Zelenska, who has championed the cause of mental health all the more since 24 February 2022.
According to WHO global estimates, 1 in 5 people (22%) living in an area affected by conflict at any time during the previous 10-year period is estimated to have some form of mental health condition, ranging from mild depression or anxiety to psychosis. Furthermore, almost 1 in 10 (9%) is living with a moderate or severe mental health condition.
WHO with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has provided hospitals in Ukraine with medical oxygen generators to treat patients in need of medical oxygen due to trauma, acute respiratory diseases and COVID-19.
WHO has provided a full scope of services related to the oxygen systems, including installation; commissioning of training for health-care workers on how to use them; and provision of spare parts, extended warranty, preventive maintenance services and transport.
The WHO Director-General transmits the report of the fourth meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) Emergency Committee regarding the multi-country outbreak of monkeypox (mpox), held on Thursday, 9 February 2023 from 12:00 to 17:00 CET.
The Emergency Committee acknowledged the progress made in the global response to the multi-country outbreak of mpox and the further decline in the number of reported cases since the last meeting. The Committee observed that a few countries continued to see a sustained incidence of illness; the Committee is also of the view that underreported detection and under-reporting of confirmed cases of illness in other regions is likely.
Therefore, the Committee considered various options to sustain attention and resources to control the outbreak and advised maintaining the Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), while beginning to consider plans to integrate mpox prevention, preparedness and response within national surveillance and control programmes, including for HIV and other sexually transmissible infections.
On 9 February 2023, the International Health Regulations Committee met to assess the public health risk posed by mpox (monkeypox) globally. In their report they concluded that in their assessment, mpox continues to constitute a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, a decision which Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO endorses.
Although there has been a decline in cases globally, and a sharp decline in the WHO European Region in particular, the threat from the disease has not gone away. There is still a high risk of mpox being imported from one country to another, both within the European Region and from other regions where infection continues to circulate.
Achieving and sustaining elimination of infection in our region has to be the next priority.
The MPOWER Programme at HIV Ireland works with members of the gay, bisexual, and men who have sex with men (MSM) community to design and implement activities to help reduce HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, while also helping to improve the sexual health and well-being of those in its community.
Adam Shanley is Programme Manager of MPOWER and remembers the swift reaction to mpox (monkeypox) in Ireland, well before the first cases were detected in the country.
Adam believes that trust and collaboration have been major factors in the success of Ireland’s response to mpox, and is proud of the way that authorities view MPOWER as a vital partner in national health responses.
WHO PUBLICATIONS
COVID-19
Weekly epidemiological update on COVID-19 - 15 February 2023
COVID-19 Vaccine Implementation Analysis & Insights - 17 February 2023
MPOX (MONKEYPOX)
2022 mpox (Monkeypox) Outbreak: Global Trends
Joint ECDC-WHO Regional Office for Europe Mpox Surveillance Bulletin - 15 February 2023
Multi-country outbreak of mpox, External situation report - 16 February 2023
WHO Emergency Appeal: Monkeypox - July 2022 - June 2023
UKRAINE EMERGENCY
War in Ukraine: situation report from WHO Ukraine country office - 15 February 2023
TURKIYE & SYRIA EARTHQUAKES
