WHO sends urgent medical supplies to China

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is rushing medical supplies to China to help rebuild the health infrastructure in the country.

Supplies to treat 130,000 people are being dispatched, together with equipment to ensure clean drinking water and proper sanitation, which is vital for controlling the spread of communicable diseases.

This includes 5,000 chlorine disinfection tablets, drinking-water treatment units and mobile toilets.

Dr Eric Laroche, assistant director-general for WHO's Health Action in Crises, said that the long term challenge is to rebuild China's damaged health infrastructure.

"WHO has already identified that the key health issue in the earthquake's aftermath is to prevent and control communicable disease outbreaks," said Mr Laroche.

The organisation has sent four interagency emergency health kits to the Sichuan province, which can provide sufficient medicines and supplies to treat 30,000 people for one month.

Unicef has also sent emergency relief to the quake-affected areas. It sent $430,000 (£218,000) worth of supplies that had been requested by the government of China.