Approach to Earthquake Related Health Problems

Abstract

A disastrous 7.8 Richter scale earthquake struck Nepal on April 25, 2015. Major Nepalese hospitals including Dhulikhel hospital did well to manage the initial thrust of patient load with grievous injuries in spite of damage to their own hospitals.1 More than 9,000 people lost their lives and many thousands are still missing. Similarly, more than 20,000 people were injured. More serious among them were brought to the hospitals situated in major cities and others were treated at health camps conducted for that purpose as most of the health care facilities situated in the earthquake affected areas were completely damaged.1 Hospital data from Dhulikhel Hospital two months after the major earthquake indicates that about six hundred patients required complex major surgery and 3,500 patients needed less serious and minor surgery. The immediate response is appropriately directed to save lives. How ever, majority of patients require long term physical and mental care even though they may not have grievous injuries. The deaths in earthquake may be instantaneous due to crush injuries, rapid due to asphyxia, hypovolemic shock etc. and delayed due to dehydration, wound infection, post-operative infection etc.2 Health of people put in temporary shelters is further made vulnerable due to poor sanitary conditions, lack of safe drinking water and malnutrition.

The impact of ocular trauma during the Nepal earthquake in 2015

“…The mountainous terrain further complicated transport and search and rescue operations, contributing to a delay in emergency response before international teams arrived. While the primary burden of earthquake-related trauma was orthopaedic [20, 21], all medical fields were involved in managing patients in the aftermath of the earthquake [22–24]. Ophthalmology services in the acute setting following a natural disaster are particularly important, as even minor ocular injuries that are sustained may become sight threatening if not managed promptly.…”

Earthquakes, Fuel Crisis, Power Outages, and Health Care in Nepal: Implications for the Future

“…More than 2 million people were immediately left exposed in the open and could not enter their houses because of fear of aftershocks 6 . The management of the large population forced to live in temporary makeshift shelters was another challenge in terms of providing clean water, sanitation, and food 15 16 Many experts and scientists predicted possible disease outbreaks, citing Nepal’s looming annual monsoon season 17 ; however, the rationale of vaccinating the large population varied between experts 7 …”

“…6 The management of the large population forced to live in temporary makeshift shelters was another challenge in terms of providing clean water, sanitation, and food. 15,16 Many experts and scientists predicted possible disease outbreaks, citing Nepal's looming annual monsoon season 17 ; however, the rationale of vaccinating the large population varied between experts. 7,18 Fortunately, food-and water-borne diseases did not affect a large majority of the population; nevertheless, preparedness for food-and waterborne diseases was strongly recommended.…”