Pakistan Appeal - FATA/KP and ARI Medicines

The WHO and Health Cluster issued a second Flash Appeal on April 24 to meet the needs of the mounting Internal Displaced People (IDP) crisis in the FATA/KP tribal areas along the Afghan borders where 684,000 people have been displaced due to conflict.   We have received an urgent request for support from the WHO in Pakistan for medicines to support all the members of the health cluster (including - WFP, UNDP, UNAIDS, UNFPA,  UNICEF, Save the Children, MSF, IMC, Medecins du Monde, Islamic Relief, Muslim Aid, Helping Hand, International Rescue, Mercy Corps, CARE, Malteser International, SIDA, World Vision, DFID, CIDA, EU).

The Health Cluster is also operating, Provincially, across Pakistan serving the 2 million refugees in camps or billetted with families affected by two consecutive years of very heavy monsoon flooding and ongoing unrest in tribal areas.  The effects of the 2011 Sindh Flooding continue to bring misery to thousands of communities.  There has been a particular appeal for Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) medicines. Their usual supply chain cannot be met in the short term and lives are at risk. For these reasons IHP is appealing to our donors to consider whether they can supply any of the medicines noted below, or similar medicines in the same therapeutic category.  If medicines are not available, donors are requested to considerv making financial contributions to meet the costs of sourcing, handling, transportation and distribution.

Horn of Africa & Sahel

IHP has been sending packs of emergency medicines to support the activities of NGOs working in Mogadishu in Somalia and medical teams working in Somaliland.  Medicines continue to be needed to support the activities of the international community working in the IDP camps in Kenya and in the communities affected by conflict and insecurity in South Sudan.

The Gambia

While the needs of food security in the Sahel are largely being met in the Gambia, there has been an outbreak of memingitis.  IHP has been asked by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and by the WHO to source the particular strains of meningiotis vaccine (ACYW135) and the specific antibiotics and analgesics needed.  The first shipments are presently being assembled.  Children are most at risk and the Government wants to instigate a campaign to vaccinate 360,000 children under 5 years of age.  If the worldwide shortage for meningitis vaccine is addressed, the Ministry of Health wishes to extend vaccination to all under 15 yrs.

Syria

Over the last four months, IHP has been holding emergency supplies for two response agencies seeking to establish programmes to treat the wounded and refugees fleeing Syria.  Polictial pressures in the region have unfortunately prevented the shipment of medicines into Syria and surrounding communities.  However, it appears that the medicines supply chain for the essential supplies that are required are now being fully stocked which will obviate an international appeal.

Needs List

(All offers sghould ideally have at least 12 months of remaining shelf life.  Suspensions and injections are the most urgently needed presentations, but solid doses are also welcome).  All essential medicines are required, especially the following:

• Amikacin
• Amoxicillin
• Ampicillin tabs (plus injections for meningitis)
• Antibiotic skin ointments
• Azithromycin
• Cefixime 
• Ceftazidime
• Ceftriaxone Injections (for meningitis cases)
• Chlorphenamine Syrup
• Chlorenphenicol drops (plus injections for meningitis)
• Ciprofloxacin
• Clarithromycin
• Co-amoxiclav
• Co-trimoxazole
• Dimenhydrinate (Diphenhydramine) Syrup
• Erythromycin
• Gentamicin
• Ibuprofen
• Paracetamol
• Permethrin
• Prednisalone
• Salbutamol 
•  

How to make a product donation

• All donations should comply with the WHO Guidelines for Drug Donations (here)
• All companies wishing to donate to this appeal complete a Donations Offer Form (here) and send to a.harris@ihpuk.org