WHO: Central African Republic public health sector in ruins

Health services in the war torn Central Africa Republic have collapsed leaving the civilian population vulnerable to disease outbreaks and the war wounded without proper treatment, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO says medical facilities have been looted and extensively damaged, forcing health workers including doctors and nurses to abandon their posts.Essential medical supplies are also critically low. WHO Director of Emergency and Humanitarian Response Dr Rick Brennan says the displaced population is in grave danger of contracting communicable diseases due to the lack of adequate water supplies and sanitation facilities.WHO says its ability and that of its partners to respond to the growing emergency health needs in the CAR is being limited by lack of funding.Its appeal for $ 55 million dollars for the CAR response has to date received about 3 million dollars.