Call for better sanitation conditions in relief camps
By Bushra Rafique

ISLAMABAD—Federal Health Minister, Muhammad Nasir Khan Monday called upon the AJK and NWFP governments to ensure safe drinking water, sanitation, hygiene and immunization coverage in the camps.
The Minister assured necessary support by the Ministry of Health in this regard. He expressed these views during a presentation made by the Task Force on sanitation and safe drinking water of camps of Jalalabad, Narol and Old University Campus in order to prevent the spread of diseases. A meeting of the Disaster Management Committee chaired by the Health Minister here was informed that there are 380-400 tents in the camp with approximately 2000-2500 population.
The chairperson was informed that the camps are overcrowded and distance between the tents is inadequate. There is no management in the camps and availability of water supply is also not sufficient.
The Task Force in its report recommended that there is an immediate need to undertake drastic measures to improve the overall availability of water, sanitation, personal and environmental hygiene and sustained immunization in the camp. These actions will ensure that the camps do not become grounds for outbreaks of diseases or epidemics, which are paramount for ensuring health and safety of the residents. The meeting members also urged to ensure local government involvement through the formation of local task force similar to the Federal Task Force so that needs of the camps could be fulfilled according to basic laid down criteria and standards.
Federal Health Secretary Syed Anwar Mahmood stressed on better coordination between the Health Education Teams recently deployed in the camps and the Boy Scouts.
Anwar Mahmood added that the Health Education Teams should build their capacity by training and providing health education materials. These Health Education Teams, he said, must also mobilize locally available channels of communication and should broadcast/telecast live programs. School population (teachers as well as students) must be actively involved in creating awareness by spreading the health education messages to the families, he added. Health Secretary said the Health Education Teams and Boy Scouts must do counselling on health matters with the families.