Scale up health services in Cox's Bazar

Vulnerable populations, including natives and Rohingyas, are at the risk of several diseases and in need of critical services for survival, said World Health Organization (WHO) yesterday.

Six months after the start of the refugee crisis, the WHO through a media release called for continued efforts to further scale up health services for nearly 1.3 million people in Cox's Bazar -- Rohingyas and their surrounding host communities.

"Commendable efforts have been made by the government of Bangladesh and partner agencies to provide health services, prevent diseases such as cholera, and rapidly control outbreaks of measles and diphtheria. However, the challenges are huge, multiple and evolving. The magnitude of the crisis requires continued efforts and generous contributions by all partners to scale up health services for the vulnerable population," said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, regional director for WHO South-East Asia.

Since August 25, 2017, an estimated 6,88,000 Rohingyas crossed over to Cox's Bazar from Myanmar, joining nearly 2,12,500 others who had arrived in earlier waves, in one of the largest population movement in the shortest span.

While majority of the refugees are living in Kutapalong and Balukhali mega camps and 11 other clusters of small and big settlements, about 79,000 are living with the host population.

The mega camps are currently the world's biggest refugee settlement areas -- and the most densely populated areas too.

The health needs of this population continue to be immense. Women and young mothers need reproductive health services. An estimated 60,000 children are expected to be born in the camps in the next one year. Besides newborns, pregnant and young mothers, children, adults and the elderly people need basic health services. Moreover, health services should be provided for injuries, trauma and various non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and importantly, psychosocial support.