Geneva
29 July 2008
The International Organization for Migration says dozens of health
workers are providing primary health care and other essential medical
assistance to thousands of victims of Cyclone Nargis, which struck
Burma in early May. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from IOM headquarters
in Geneva.
IOM spokesman Jean-Philippe Chauzy tells VOA, mobile
medical teams are navigating through the narrow river system of the
Irrawaddy Delta to provide primary health care to Cyclone Nargis
survivors in remote, hard to reach areas.
"The way we do it is
actually quite interesting, because we work with a fleet of inflatable
boats called Zodiacs, with engines, outboard engines," he said. "And,
we go to those villages to bring the assistance that is needed. It is
part of a broader health program for Myanmar. We have also, with our
partners, set up 15 temporary clinics, these are tented clinics in
places where the medical infrastructure was completely destroyed by the
cyclone."
This medical program began after the Cyclone struck
on May 2. So far, IOM mobile medical teams have treated nearly 25,000
patients in 327 remote villages in the Delta.
The cyclone,
the worst to hit Burma in 40 years, killed around 130,000 people,
and affected nearly 2.5 million people. A recent United Nations
survey assessed damages and losses at about $4 billion.
Hundreds of thousands
of homes and schools have been destroyed and damaged. The survey found
75 percent of the health facilities in the Irrawaddy Delta have been
demolished.
Chauzy say people are suffering from the effects of
unclean water and food, lack of proper shelter and clothing, and a lack
of adequate sanitation. He says many survivors also have been deeply
traumatized by the shattering effects of the Cyclone and are in need of
psychological support.
"As part of our medical teams, we also
have psycho-social counselors, who are doing their best to provide as
much needed assistance to those who have been particularly affected,
traumatized by the Cyclone now," said Chauzy. "That is obviously a
long-term goal. We need to continue to provide this psychological
support to children, to adults who have been particularly aggrieved by
this Cyclone."
In addition to providing direct medical aid,
IOM is also distributing relief items, including tarpaulins, jerry
cans, chlorine for water purification, hygiene kits and
insecticide-treated mosquito nets.