10 March 2005
World Vision is focusing on the health and economic needs of people in tsunami-affected areas of Asia, now that
emergency relief work is almost complete.
World Vision CEO Helen Green says health programmes will address key concerns such as malaria and dengue fever and other
communicable diseases, which are common in areas such as Indonesia's Banda Aceh.
"Much of the public health infrastructure has been destroyed in areas that were badly hit, so we are involved in
capacity-building of health professionals, the reconstruction of health facilities and the provision of essential medial
equipment as well as medicines," she says.
In Banda Aceh a temporary media clinic has been set up, with nine more to follow. Upcoming activities include providing
emergency vehicles and establishing community health education programmes.
Livelihood recovery projects are also a major focus in Indonesia. The United Nations estimates that 1.8 million people
in Ache lost their jobs and livelihoods as a result of the tsunami. In response to this, World Vision has begun to
develop livelihood recovery projects, initially targeting 124 families.
"Almost all the men are fishermen who have lost their livelihoods, so we are helping with purchasing new boats so they
can return to work. Once we have a programme in place, we hope to help many, many more people return to work," Mrs Green
says.
Health needs have also become a priority in Thailand. Mrs Green says World Vision is working with the Ministry of Public
Health to provide a mobile clinic to serve families in Phuket, Phang Nga and Ranong.
Mrs Green says that although the focus has turned from relief work to reconstruction, World Vision is continuing to
distribute drinking water, food, tents and other essential supplies to areas in need.
"It is now more than two months since the tsunami hit, but there are still hundreds of thousands of people across
Indonesia, India, Thailand and Sri Lanka who are continuing to need aid. We are still doing all we can to meet these
needs, but must also make sure we are helping people to become self-sufficient," she says.
ENDS