Hospital emergency: lack of beds and medicine for earthquake victims in Nepal
Kathmandu (AsiaNews) - Thousands of people who were injured in the "Great Earthquake" in Nepal are lined up in front of the few hospitals still standing, hoping to be cured. According to the Ministry of Health, 300 hospitals scattered in 14 districts affected by the earthquake - including the capital Kathmandu - have suffered serious structural damage, and at least half have been destroyed. Beds, instruments and medicines are growing scarce.
Sanju Thapa, from Dolakha district, is in line to be admitted to Bir Hospital in Kathmandu: "I lost my parents; I, my husband and my 3 year old have serious wounds to the head and chest. For two days we have been waiting to be hospitalized, but the hospital says that there are not enough beds and materials to take us in. I worry about the lack of money, I do not know if I can afford medicine when it's my turn. Many patients hospitalized before us continue to say they are running out of stocks. "
Chintamani Pokhrel is in a similar situation. He suffers from liver problems, he explains, "but the hospital says that the dialysis machine is not available. I have been waiting for seven days. If I do not get treatment today, I could die. What can I do and where should I go? The situation is the same in all the hospitals in Kathmandu. "
Shanta Bahadur Shrestha, Ministry of Health secretary, said this morning: "Our capabilities [to give assistance] have decreased significantly because many doctors have died, many hospitals have collapsed and scores of equipment and medical supplies were damaged . We need the help of the international community. "
"Fortunately - he added - among foreigners there are many Christian organizations, which are providing care to the victims through their mobile clinics. We are grateful if they were not here, our situation would be even more dramatic. "
Anil Kumar Mishra, professor and head of the Bir Hospital Liver Unit, explains: "The disaster has exceeded our estimate. At least 450 beds in our hospital are destroyed. All operating rooms are closed. Medicines and tools are damaged. We try to treat people in tents. Thousands of people come here to get treatment, but our means to treatment are really limited".
Meanwhile, many countries around the world have sent teams of doctors to Nepal. Among them, the most active are from United States, Italy, China and India. The Indian Embassy in Nepal reported that the army has sent 18 medical teams and two field hospitals to Lagankel and Sinamangal (45 beds each). So far they have treated 3,638 people, performed 183 surgical operations and discharged more than 71 patients.
Even many Christian and Catholic organizations are moving mobile clinics. Jesuit Fr. Bijaya Toppo, explains: "Our priests have come from many countries to bring instruments, medical supplies and aid, particularly psychological support for victims and children."
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