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7 April - World Health Day |
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Vietnam/Returnees/UNHCR funded Clinic/Pho Dong, Dong Nai Province
© UNHCR/L. Taylor |
Since 1950 World Health Day has been celebrated
on the 7th of April of each year, with the
objective of raising global awareness of
a specific health theme to highlight a priority
area of concern for the World Health Organization
(WHO). The theme selected by WHO for 2004
is Road Safety. See the official WHO World
Health Day 2004
page for full information.
Injury and death through transport accidents adds to the already high health
risks and increased mortality rates facing refugees and Internally Displaced
People (IDPs). These populations are often in transit. Fleeing an emergency
in haste, en masse, travelling in overloaded vehicles, or as pedestrians,
or attempting to move clandestinely (by moving at night or attempting hazardous
border crossing points or trafficking routes) increases their risks on these
journeys.
Further, these populations may have little or no medical access, nor a secure
home or income whilst they try to recovery from any injuries or illnesses
suffered.
However, basic issues such as protection against disease, access to clean
water, sanitary conditions of refugee camps, etc. play a more important overall
health role for refugees/IDPs. In assisting and protecting these populations
a strong emphasis on a Primary Health Care (PHC) strategy
focusing on the vital sectors of water, food, sanitation, shelter and physical
planning is considered essential, alongside provision of preventive and basic
curative health services.
"In an emergency, many refugees will be exposed
to insecurity, poor shelter, overcrowding, lack of sufficient safe water, inadequate
sanitation, inadequate or inappropriate food supplies and a possible lack of
immunity to the diseases of the new environment. Furthermore, on arrival, refugees
may already be in a debilitated state from disease, malnutrition, hunger, fatigue,
harassment, physical violence and grief. Poverty, powerlessness and social instability,
conditions that often prevail for refugees, can also contribute to increased
sexual violence and spread of sexually transmitted diseases including the Human
Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV)." UNHCR Handbook
for Emergencies (PDF file 2305 KB)
This resource page guides users to background documents, web resources and
relevant organizations selected from Forced Migration Online (FMO) that expand
further on this important topic.
Introduction/Overviews
Documents/Journal Articles:
Web Resources:
For more, search in the
FMO Web Catalogue.
General:
Operational materials:
Organizations:
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