The second Health Resources and Services Availability Monitoring System (HeRAMS) report, a pivotal document reflecting the current state of health services and resources at the camp level, was finalised after a comprehensive data validation and verification process from December 2023 to February 2024. This critical endeavour, supported by the WHO Headquarters’ HeRAMS initiative team, provides insights into service availability, and identifies service gaps and barriers. The health sector team’s diligent review and incorporation of feedback ensured the report’s accuracy, leading to its publication and distribution among all health sector partners and relevant stakeholders.
The WHO-led health sector’s focal point of April’s activities was their commitment to coordination and strategic planning, exemplified by regular monthly meetings at Cox’s Bazar and field levels. The Strategic Advisory Group (SAG) convened a vital meeting, prioritizing the completion of the Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) for Sector/Cluster Coordination, Performance Monitoring, and Referrals. Moreover, the regular Working Group (WG) meetings played a significant role in keeping partners updated on the latest developments.
The Community Health Working Group (CHWG) carried out a Head Lice prevalence survey through Community Based Surveillance (CBS), supported technically by Epi WG and WHO. The initiative uncovered that 35% of the camp’s population was affected by Head Lice. Notably, female children under five years of age had the highest infestation rates. The surveillance also found that females had a notably higher infestation rate at 48%, compared to 21% for males. In response to these findings, a Mass Drug Administration (MDA) commenced on May 5th and is set to conclude by May 16th, 2024, aiming to treat around 196,000 high-risk individuals.
