MISP Disaster Situation
Pakistan was grappling with the swelling issues of political instability, terrorism, target killings, and deteriorating economy that the flash flood and heavy rains hit the land in an unprecedented manner in August, 2010 affecting one-fifth of the country, and engulfed large parts of all four provinces Punjab, Balochistan, Sindh and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
The vast scope of the damage makes the floods a truly national disaster which affected more than 20.18 million populations in 78 districts of all the four provinces of Pakistan, damaging more than 1.74 million households and destroying more than 2.24 million hectares of crops, leaving 1985 people dead and 2946 injured. Economic reflection of this huge scale loss has been estimated around 40 billion dollars.
First Initiative
The MISP is a set of priority activities designed to: prevent excess maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity; reduce HIV transmission; prevent and manage the consequences of sexual violence; and plan for comprehensive SRH services. The MISP includes kits of equipment and supplies to complement a set of priority activities that must be implemented at the onset of an emergency in a coordinated manner by trained staff. The MISP can be implemented without a new needs assessment because documented evidence already justifies its use. The components of the MISP form a minimum requirement and it is expected that comprehensive SRH services will be provided as soon as the situation allows.
Rahnuma-FPAP through an advocacy campaign was successful in incorporating MISP in the disaster management plans, as SOPs, of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, KP, AJK, GB, and FATA. It is continuously working with government institutions for effective implementation of MISP in disaster areas through model service provision strategies and training programs.
With IPPF support Rahnuma-FPAP implemented MISP in District Muzaffargarh of Punjab and Nowshera, KP Province of Pakistan. The MISP is a minimum standard in the 2004 Sphere guidelines and in the 2009 IASC Global Health Cluster Guidance as well as a CERF minimum life-saving criterion eligible for CERF funding. 20,512 women were provided with ante natal, post natal, family planning, counseling, general health and STIs services including deliveries and referral. 7091 cases of skin infection, malaria, diarrhea and RTIs were treated. Medicines were provided to 8648 people and 2014 delivery kits, TBA kits, baby kits, mini kits and hygiene kits were provided.
Second Initiative
The project was implemented in the two districts of KP; Charsadda and Nowshera. During this period (October 2010 to 14 January 2011), more than 166 medical camps were organized in flood affected districts. Benefitting more than 22000 women with SRH&R and FP services.
Third Initiative
The main focus of this initiative was the conduct of medical camps in disaster affected areas. The concerned project staff in affected area held meetings with local communities and also made announcement for the medical camp. The project also made effective coordination among organizers, local health staff officials, target communities, enabling to conduct 305 medical camps. These medical camps benefitted more than 38,589 people including woman, men and children. Further to sensitize the local communities on Health & Hygiene, more than 178 community awareness sessions were organized, benefitting 4,855 people.
Fourth Initiative
Some medical camps were conducted in the floods hit areas with support from Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund
National Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Network (NHEPRN)
Rahnuma-FPAP has been collaborating with NHEPRN under Sprint II Initiative. The importance of the Heath emergency preparedness & response (HEPR) was recognized after the 2005 earthquake. During the earthquake a temporary arrangement was made by Ministry of Health (department) in the PIMS hospital where all institutions and government agencies collaborated and a health cluster forum was established. This approach effectively responds to the earthquake 2005. This approach was later transformed into a separate organization named, National health Emergency preparedness & Response Network. It was established on 10th March, 2010 by the Government of Pakistan. It is the first step toward institutionalizing the concept of Health emergency preparedness & response in Pakistan.
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is the lead agency at the Federal level to deal with the whole spectrum of Disaster Management activities. It is the executive arm of the National Disaster Management Commission (NDMC) which has been established under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister as the apex policy making body in the field of Disaster Management. In the event of a disaster, all stakeholders including Government Ministries/Departments/Organizations, Armed Forces, INGOs, NGOs, UN Agencies work through and form part of the NDMA to conduct one window operations. It is established under the National Disaster Management Act – 2010 and functions under the supervision of National Disaster Management Commission (NDMC) which is headed by the Prime Minister of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. NDMA manages the whole Disaster Management Cycle (DMC) which includes Preparedness, Mitigation, Risk Reduction, Relief and Rehabilitation. A National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) is prepared and is followed towards provision of better services to the affected ones.
Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA)
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) is a comprehensive endeavor towards combating natural or man-induced disasters at the Provincial and Local level and securing lives and livelihoods of the affected people. Constituted under the NDM Act (National Disaster Management Act) in 2010, PDMA specializes in mitigation, preparedness and an organized response to a disaster. The most important role of PDMA lies in providing a platform for all provincial departments to come together and strategize management and response to disasters and calamities. PDMA also acts as the coordinating authority, which articulates the coordination mechanism between key provincial departments including Rescue 1122, Civil Defense, District Governments and Police for immediate rescue and rehabilitation operations. In case of a disaster, PDMA not only oversees search, rescue and evacuation of the affected people, but also takes concrete measures to provide immediate relief, early recovery and long-term rehabilitation to them. In case of emergencies, the PDMA works closely with District Governments to organize initial and subsequent assessment of disaster affected areas, and determine the course of action to ensure long-term rehabilitation of the affected population.