El Salvador Floods - Pan American Health Organization 2011

November 1 2011 - Since the first week of October large parts of Central America have experienced torrential rains leading to severe flooding and landslides in several countries. As of 26 October 2011 the number of affected people in El Salvador is approximately 300 000 while some reports indicate that this number could eventually reach 1 million. Government agencies have reported that flooding has impacted 181 of the country's 262 municipalities has lead to 35 deaths and displaced approximately 60 000 into 638 evacuation shelters across the country. Further 2 000 square kilometres of land have been flooded equivalent to 10% of the entire national territory while there has been significant damage reported to the country's transportation health water and sanitation infrastructure. With CIDA support World Health Organization/Pan American Health Organization will work to ensure access to life-saving primary and secondary health care services for populations affected by the floods and landslides in El Salvador. Specific activities include: the provision and distribution of medicines and medical supplies to community health centres; reinforcing the capacity of the primary health care services in affected communities; the detection and prevention of outbreaks of communicable diseases; and the continuity of access to primary health care for affected populations.

Expected outputs include: medicines medical supplies intravenous fluids antibiotics and antiviral drugs are provided and administered to meet the emergency health needs of flood-affected people; and the capacity of the primary health care system is reinforced to ensure care and treatment is provided to those in most need. The expected intermediate outcome is reduced vulnerability of flood-affected people especially women and children.