Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has pledged a generous $ 1 million donation to support the World Health Organization (WHO) in its efforts to strengthen Pakistan’s response to the ongoing MonSun floods.
“We are especially grateful for the Gates Foundation for this generous and timely support for WHO teams in the field, helping the federal and provincial authorities meet health needs, delivering medical supplies and saving lives,” said WHO representative in Pakistan Dr. Dapeng Luo during a visit to health facilities in flooded areas of the Swabi District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
The funding will help meet the health needs of over 465,000 people most affected by the floods in 33 high-risk districts in KP, Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan. The initiative aims to ensure the continuity of life -saving healthcare by improving disease monitoring, the outbreak response and the availability of important medical supplies in flooding areas.
“With the climate crisis that burns ever harder monsoon and natural disasters, rapid response and good readiness are critical of preserving public health,” Dr. Dapeng Luo. He added that WHO is standing with Pakistan to save lives today and build stronger, more robust health systems for tomorrow and protect future generations.
In particular, the funds will focus on protecting vulnerable populations, including pregnant women, children under five, the elderly, people with disabilities, internally displaced (IDPs) and those living in host communities.
Since August 15, the devastating floods have claimed at least 450 lives and injured 265 people in KP alone, affecting over 860,000 individuals. Who teams continue to help the federal and provincial authorities provide medical support and respond to the crisis.
The initiative to be implemented over the next six months will also strengthen the coordination of the health sector and provide important information to society through risk communication and community commitment (RCCE) efforts.
A day earlier, the United Nations released $ 600,000 to support the relief efforts of victims of flash flooding caused by merciless monsoon rains in Pakistan. UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric told journalists in New York that Pakistani authorities, supported by UN and local partners, are leading the emergency. A UN team will conduct an injury survey on Wednesday.
