International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b) on Thursday organized a dissemination seminar to share its emergency healthcare response and pre-emptive oral cholera vaccination measures among the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals.
icddr,b and Unicef jointly conducted a field assessment in Cox's Bazar in September 2017, and identified the potential risks of a diarrhoeal disease outbreak and related mitigation initiatives required, said a press release.
Accordingly, icddr,b partnered with Unicef to strengthen healthcare services for diarrhoeal disease and malnutrition in the Rohingya community.
As described in the seminar, “they came with nothing, they had nothing and needed infrastructure, sanitation, shelter, food, non-food items and health care.”
Unicef supported the study to evaluate the effectiveness of oral cholera vaccine administered among Rohingyas.
The resulting work, which prevented a cholera outbreak has been described as “the most successful pre-emptive campaign.”
Dr Tahmeed Ahmed, senior director at Nutrition and Clinical Services (NCSD) at icddr,b briefed about the icddr,b-Unicef partnership to strengthen acute watery diarrhoea treatment and preparedness initiatives.
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In the seminar, Dr Azharul Islam Khan, head of Hospitals at icddr,b highlighted the implementation process and experiences in community engagement and the vital role connecting with all elements of the community plays in successful dissemination and implementation.
Dr ASG Faruque, senior scientist of NCSD at icddr,b presented on the DTC based diarrhoeal disease surveillance activities, which included the recognition that Cox’s Bazar was a cholera hotspot and sanitation facilities in the camp created an environment ripe for cholera outbreaks.
He reported that a total of 820 health care professionals were trained by icddr,b on management of diarrhoeal disease, and the diarrhoeal treatment centres have provided care to 6,156 patients comprised Rohingya and host communities. Some 781 stool specimens were also tested for cholera and found to be negative.
This icddr,b-Unicef collaboration will continue through 2019 with limited scope, however one DTC will remain operational while others will be closed temporarily, only to be opened if there is a surge of patients.
During October 2017 to December 2018, there were 4 rounds vaccination campaign, administering 2.2 million doses of oral cholera vaccine among Rohingyas and host community.
