"Al Mezan" warns of deteriorating health situation in Gaza due to spread of "swine flu"

To expandThe Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights announced Monday that it was following with great interest the evolution of health in the Gaza Strip, especially in light of The announcement by the Ministry of Health that the spread of the H1N1 virus had killed 12 citizens.
In a statement, Al Mezan called on health supervisors to strengthen coordination, speed up the implementation of prevention programs and provide a sufficient number of vaccines and antivirals that can reduce acute complications and deaths among population. Information and data on the influenza virus.
According to the information available, the number of patients presenting in hospitals and primary health care centers complaining of flu symptoms, which the Ministry of Health considered normal, especially since the spread of the virus. in winter, but the onset of symptoms of the disease before separation Winter has aroused public concern and increased fears, especially in light of the poor health opportunities in the Gaza Strip.

"In this context, the World Health Organization (WHO) has indicated that the influenza virus would likely result in death if it did not affect the most vulnerable groups, especially the less immunized, such as than children, the elderly and people with chronic diseases Infection with the flu virus ".

According to the statement from the Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, the Ministry of Health received about 8,000 doses of vaccine for 8,000 people last Thursday, which should be distributed to at-risk groups of kidney patients and Patients Cancer, chronic psoriasis, pregnant women and hospital caregivers of doctors and nurses.
Based on monitoring and monitoring of health developments, Al Mezan pointed out that the Gaza Strip has a special nature that makes the H1N1 virus as widespread as it spreads rapidly among people living in overcrowded places.

"The Gaza Strip is one of the most densely populated areas in the world, with an estimated population of 5,205 inhabitants per square kilometer, forcing health authorities to alert and prepare for the disease. , which killed 12 citizens.

"These sources of health indicate that the West Bank has not recorded any cases of deaths due to the flu until the statement."

The Al Mezan Center for Human Rights insisted on the need to take measures to contain the disease and provide adequate vaccines in a timely and sufficient number. He called on all the bodies responsible for overseeing the services health – the government sector, the private sector and UNRWA – to strengthen the level of coordination and follow-up in order to overcome crises. In the Gaza Strip.
He stressed that access to appropriate health care required the authorities to provide access not only to medical facilities and services, but also to information and ideas about health problems, access and safety. transmission, and called on all agencies and international health organizations to support and support the health sector so that they can provide services and health care. Health care.