ACU Addresses the Health Crisis in Deir Ezzour

The head of ACU’s e-Warning said that after the liberation of wide parts of the province of Deir Ezzour, it became clear the size of the health crisis caused by Assad regime’s years-long neglect of the province. The first case of polio in Deir Ezzour was detected by e-Warning in October of 2013. ACU’s e-Warning is currently giving particular importance to Deir Ezzour province, through vigorous and daily monitoring of health status. ACU’s e-Warning also prepared reports on health developments in the province by monitoring more than 37 health centers, hospitals and private clinics scattered throughout various parts of the province. It also receives weekly reports from workers about epidemics, including polio, measles, whooping cough and leishmaniasis. Sixty-two cases of acute flaccid paralysis have been detected so far, in addition to 10 cases of polio. E-Warning is working in coordination with ACU’s health department to provide the necessary treatment and monitor the evolution of the situation of the patients. An increase in respiratory diseases has been recorded recently, and it is suspected they are swine flu H1N1. Three deaths were documented , but due to lack of necessary diagnostic laboratory the cause of death was not accurately diagnosed. An increase in cases of tuberculosis was also recorded in the province, with 30 new cases detected lately. E-Warning expressed its grave concern about the lack of necessary treatment for the injured, which may cause the emergence of new bacterial diseases. E-Warning seeks to ensure free treatment to all patients, especially new infections and conduct diagnostic tests and monitor all cases in an attempt to contain the disease. It also published its weekly newsletter containing recent epidemiological studies in Syria on the following link: http://goo.gl/tJP2Qw (Source: Syrian Coalition)