UN, Red Cross pledge to help poor face flu pandemic

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UN, Red Cross pledge to help poor face flu pandemic (AFP)

GENEVA — The World Health Organisation, Red Cross and UN agencies made a joint

pledge Friday to help poor nations tackle swine flu, warning that they are

likely to be the hardest hit by the pandemic.

The agencies said they would help countries with weakened health care to detect,

treat and reduce the spread A(H1N1) influenza, and to ensure that other chronic

illnesses and diseases there are still tackled.

" We need a joint coordinated effort between all these partners to be able to

respond the best -- particularly in resource-poor countries, in countries where

health systems are vulnerable and weak, " said WHO spokesman Garwood.

It will include a global advertising campaign to detail steps people can take to

prevent spread of the virus, said Tammam Aloudat, senior officer for health in

emergencies at the Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

The joint " Call to Action " acknowledged that " the impact of the pandemic is

likely to be more severe in countries with weak health systems, poor health

status, and limited resources. "

" Countries where health services are overburdened by diseases, such as HIV/AIDS,

tuberculosis, and malaria, will have great difficulty managing the surge of

cases seen when pandemic influenza spreads, " it added.

The steps will include plans for an additional 30 percent buffer stock of

medical supplies to treat pneumonia, such as paracetamol, antibiotics, and

oxygen.

The agencies also said they would ensure use of drugs like Tamiflu in treatment

and plan vaccinations campaigns.

However, those pledges were conditional on the availability of antiviral drugs

and vaccines.

The WHO has several times called on western countries to help out developing

nations by donating some of their stocks of antiviral drugs.

The swine flu virus has sperad to more than 170 countries, leaving 1,799 dead

since it first appeared in April according to the WHO.