Summary of teh WHO‘s Response โฃto rift Valley Fever in Mauritania
This article details the World Health Organization (WHO)โ and Mauritanian goverment’s collaborative response to an outbreak of Rift Valley Fever (RVF). Here’s aโฃ breakdown of the โคkeyโข points:
* Proactive Approach: โThe response focuses on investigation, listening to communities, and taking โขaction with a strong emphasis on proximity to affected populations.
* Infrastructure & Resources:
* Rehabilitation of Isolation Units: Units were โฃrepaired in key areas (Aioun, Modibougou, Temecheket, Bassikounou) for safe and rapid โฃtreatment.
*โฃ Medical supplies: 3.5 โtonnesโ of medicines and medical inputs were delivered,along with โคtwo ambulances for the Hodh El Chargui and Hodh El Gharbi regions.
* Epidemiologicalโ Surveillance & Communication:
โ * Strengthened Surveillance: Case definitions wereโค disseminated, โฃand briefings were conducted.
โ โ * Risk Communication Campaign: 6,000 materials in local languages wereโฃ distributed, supplemented by radio โbroadcasts and local activities in nearly 160โ locations. Specific trainingโ was given in slaughterhouses.
* Targeted Areas: 8 wilayas โฃ(regions), Nouakchott, and Adrar were targeted.
* Community Impact: โ Theโ efforts are demonstrably changing behaviors. Residentsโข like Mariem and Sidi report understanding the importance โof reporting sick animals, avoiding infected meat, and notifying veterinary services.
* National & International Collaboration:
* Government Commitment: Mauritanian authorities are committed to increased vigilance and coordinated action.
* WHO โคSupport: The WHO is providing โtechnical and financial support.
* “One Health” Approach: Collaboration betweenโข human and veterinary services is โcrucial,integrating human,animal,and environmental health. This โฃwas highlighted by a recent FAO evaluation โmission.
* Long-Term Goals: The response isn’t justโ about โimmediate control, but also about strengthening the health system โข for future threats, building local capacity, and integrating communities into surveillance.
In essence, the article portrays a prosperous, multi-faceted response to the RVF outbreak in Mauritania, โcharacterized by collaboration, community engagement,โค and โa focus on both immediate needs and long-term resilience.
