KEY UPDATES:
October saw the closure of four health facilities in the Eastern region and 35 in Urogzan province. In the Southern region, 45 health facilities were partially or completely closed, and of them 15 were later re-opened. Two health facilities were destroyed.
Mobile health services were provided by cluster partners, but some areas were inaccessible due to insecurity.
Ongoing conflict continued to displace families and individuals.
A total of 298 families (1,389 individuals) of documented returnees returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan through Spinboldak gate.
There was a significant decline in the number of returnees from Pakistan via Torkham border crossing.One polio case was confirmed in Kandahar.
4 suspected outbreaks (2 Measles case, 1CCHF, and 1 food poisoning) occurred in the Southern region.
Six new cases of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) were reported in the west region, bring the total numbers of CCHF cases to 79 in 2017. 17 people lost their lives.
PROGRAMME ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS:
WHO delivered emergency kits and medicines to Kunduz.
WHO conducted a supervisory and monitoring visit to Nimroz province, mainly focused to design a health facility for undocumented returnees and deportees.
Orientation on use and procurement of equipment was conducted for Wazir Akber Khan, Ibn Sena, and Indra Ghandi hospitals to increase their level of preparedness for mass casualties.
WHO donated a cholera kit to Nimroz province to prepare for any emergency situations with a lack of access to adequate drinking water.
A total of 407 documented returnees were provided primary health services by UNHCR encashment center health facility. Medicines were provided by WHO.
In the Southern region, 34,952 returnees received outpatient services and 6,874 children received vaccination (OPV, IPV & measles).
WHO provided trauma care service instruments to Nangarhar public health directorate to be used in Fatimatul Zohra public hospital and Nangarhar regional hospital.
Initial preparations were made for the implementation of 2nd phase of Health Emergency Risk Assessment, including high level meetings with MoPH and ANDMA.