SELECTED RESULTS FROM THE UN-EU PARTNERSHIP IN 2009 IN THE AREA OF HEALTH:
Bangladesh: “National Immunization Days” and surveillance activities are being sustained until the South East Asian Region is free from polio. Independent data indicated a 97.5% coverage for National Immunization Days in December 2008 and January 2009.
Barbados, Brazil, Cambodia, Colombia, Dominican Republic, India, Trinidad and Tobago: Civil society partners were strengthened to provide basic services including education to prevent drug use and reduce the harm caused. 36,200 people received counselling and treatment at drop-in centres. Some 132,500 people attended artistic performances aimed at distributing messages on prevention of HIV/AIDS and drug use.
Cape Verde: To reduce mortality and morbidity due to the first ever dengue outbreak in the country, the clinical management system was strengthened through better diagnostics, surveillance and laboratory capacities as well as through interventions to control the spread of mosquitoes.
Guinea-Bissau: To manage a rapid response and contain future cholera outbreaks, the partnership supported the creation of national rapid response teams – including epidemiologists, laboratorians, water and sanitation personnel – for deployment within 24 hours on the first indication of cholera in any part of the country.
Iraq: National guidelines and standard operating procedures for blood safety and blood transfusion were developed. A
rapid assessment of emergency medical services was conducted. Procurement of bio-medical equipment and supplies for the National Blood Transfusion Centre in Baghdad and regional blood banks in Najaf, Mosul and Basrah is underway.
Liberia: A cost-effective community ambulance service for obstetric and medical emergencies was supported in hard to reach areas of the Lofa county. This service assisted half of all obstetric emergencies and performed around half of all Caesarean sections, reducing potential maternal and newborn deaths. Mothers and children received improved services from 12 primary health care clinics that were strengthened with medical supplies, sta" and guidelines on maternal and child-related health issues. In 2009, the clinics carried out 118,000 consultations; 40% of patients were children. 5,500 children under one were fully immunised. Of 1,325 deliveries taking place, no maternal deaths were reported.
Pakistan: In conflict-affected populations in camps and host communities, 22 ambulances provided services in the target districts with around-the-clock availability. Health facilities in the region were strengthened as 11 hospitals received medicines, operating theatres, blood banks and laboratory equipment.
Palestine refugees: A wide range of health services was provided to 4.7 million refugees. In 2009, nearly 10 million consultations took place; 85,000 refugees were assisted in covering hospital costs; there was a virtually 100% coverage by the vaccination programme for ten diseases (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, TB, measles, rubella, mumps, polio, Hib and hepatitis); five mobile health teams operating in the West Bank facilitated access to health services in areas affected by closure, offering a full range of essential curative and preventive services to 13,000 patients per month in over 150 isolated locations. In 2009, mobile clinics treated 140,000 refugees.
Papua New Guinea: Outbreak surveillance and response systems for early effective control of influenza, cholera and shigella outbreaks were improved through training in epidemiological investigation, water and sanitation interventions such as rainwater catchment systems and latrines, and pre-positioning of emergency supplies such as jerry cans and oral rehydration salts.
In Uzbekistan, the implementation of national health care reforms was supported. Strengthened newborn care and improved quality of maternal and child health care was achieved by developing skills and capacity through the training of chief doctors and nurses in hospitals, and training primary health clinic staff on the management of childhood diseases.
In West Africa emergency preparedness and response capacities were strengthened to cope with major epidemics such as meningitis and yellow fever as well as outbreaks of Ebola, Marburg and plague.
