WHO lauds India’s disaster preparedness

NEW DELHI: The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Thursday commended India’s response to cyclone Fani and the Nipah virus outbreak this year as a result of the investments the country has made in preparedness for emergencies while commemorating 15 years of the Indian Ocean tsunami.

Fifteen years ago on this day, a strong earthquake in the Indian ocean triggered a massive tsunami, with waves as high as 100 feet that hit several countries in WHO’s South-East Asia Region (SEAR), killing over 200,000 people within hours, sweeping away homes, destroying livelihoods and crippling health services.

“The investments in preparedness has been demonstrated in responses to the several big and small emergencies… most recently India’s response to cyclone Fani and the Nipah virus outbreak this year. Preparedness has helped substantially reduce deaths and diseases during these events,” read the statement from the office of the regional director,

WHO SEAR.

Cyclone Fani, one of the biggest storms to come off the Indian Ocean in recent years, made landfall in Odisha’s Puri in May, but the damage was minimised because of disaster response measures that were put in place. The outbreak of Nipah virus in Kerala’s Ernakulum district in June was contained, thanks to an efficient public health service machinery. Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, regional director, WHO South-East Asia, said, “This region continues to be disaster-prone. Our vulnerabilities have increased in the last 15 years due to climate change and its associate risks and disease outbreaks...this day is a reminder for us to strengthen our commitment and resolve to steel our preparedness at all levels to be able to save lives everywhere.”

Preeti Sudan, secretary (health), government of India, said, “The robustness of our surveillance system, and a team effort of the states, particularly healthcare and other professionals working on field has enabled us to contain the damage and outbreak situations.”