Tehran – The Ministry of Health explains the wide range of services offered to refugees, particularly in the eastern South Holasan, northeastern Holasan Razabi and southeastern Sistan Balcistan province.
The services include establishing health camps, screening for infectious diseases and providing safe water and sanitation, the Ministry of Health website reports.
The Ministry of Health has established permanent and temporary camps to perform screenings and provides medical services such as injections, serotherapy and the treatment of acute patients.
Extensive screening for infectious disease and epidemic risk management, including syndrome screening for 14 infectious diseases, ongoing water and food sampling, and drinking water disinfection, is among other measures adopted by the Ministry.
Environmental hygiene, such as improving infrastructure, access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities, and proper management of infectious waste in camps, is another part of the Ministry of Health’s efforts to ensure the prevention of contagious diseases, and monitor the environment to prevent infection of diseases such as malaria, krowl (EL TOR), and other similar diseases.
The Ministry of Health is doing its best to manage referrals, with an average of over 5,000 people receiving medical services during busy times. It also strengthened the camp’s capabilities in terms of HR, equipment, temporary beds, coordination and logistics support for the immediate provision of medicine, disinfectants, personal protective equipment and other important items.
Border Terminal’s Medical Services
About 36,000 illegal Afghan refugees have benefited from the health services provided at the Degallon border terminal in Teibad, Holasan Razabi province, northeastern province of Holasan Razabi.
They were visited by doctors and received nursing services. They were also educated on proper hygiene practices and how to avoid infectious diseases. The suspected cases were also tested, the IRNA quoted Soudabeh Nekouhi as saying.
Heat stroke, food poisoning and high blood pressure are one of the main reasons to visit health centres, she added.
Since the beginning of the current Iranian year (March 21), medical products worth 1 billion rials (nearly $1.150) have been distributed among de Garon’s undocumented refugees. Additionally, 22,492 Afghans who legally entered the country have been screened, and 10,753 have been vaccinated as part of the prevention programme, Nekohi said.
All Afghan nationals, 85% male, have been screened and tested for 16 different illnesses, she noted.
Since the beginning of the current Iranian year on March 21, more than 800,000 unauthorized Afghans have returned to Afghanistan, with 80% of them voluntarily leaving the country.
According to Home Minister Escandar Momeni, the country does not plan to deport documented and licensed refugees.
“We are just deporting two million Afghans who live illegally in Iran,” he said.
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