WHO issues rapid health assessment on impact of Nepal earthquake
Summary: A rapid assessment of health-care facilities by WHO and the Ministry of Health and Population in the earthquake-stricken areas has found that hospitals in 4 of the worst-affected districts are completely destroyed or too badly damaged to function.
Key points
- A rapid assessment of health-care facilities by WHO and the Ministry of Health and Population in the earthquake-stricken areas has found that hospitals in 4 of the worst-affected districts are completely destroyed or too badly damaged to function.
- Five other major hospitals, providing important health care in the districts, were found to be functioning but urgently in need of further medical supplies.
- Preliminary findings from the assessment, found that while there was a shortage of supplies, sufficient health personnel were available to treat patients arriving in the functioning hospitals.
A rapid assessment of health-care facilities by WHO and the Ministry of Health and Population in the earthquake-stricken areas has found that hospitals in 4 of the worst-affected districts are completely destroyed or too badly damaged to function. Five other major hospitals, providing important health care in the districts, were found to be functioning but urgently in need of further medical supplies. Preliminary findings from the assessment, found that while there was a shortage of supplies, sufficient health personnel were available to treat patients arriving in the functioning hospitals. “WHO staff have been working round the clock to gather this snapshot of the damage inflicted on Nepal’s hospitals and clinics by the earthquake,” according to WHO’s Country Representative for Nepal, Dr Lin Aung. “This information will be a vital tool in guiding the short- to medium-term response by national and international healthcare providers, determining where to move health teams and supplies in the country.” Teams visited 21 hospitals in 12 of the districts most severely-impacted by the 25 April earthquake to gather information and found that a total of 17 hospitals were still operational. Shortage of supplies Many hospitals told the assessment teams that they were experiencing a shortage of supplies, including essential medicines, surgery kits, IV fluids, antibiotics and suturing materials, while tents and mattresses were also required. WHO has already provided essential medicines and supplies to treat 120 000 people for three months, as well as trauma and surgical kits. Additional supplies, including urgently needed medical tents, are scheduled to arrive in Kathmandu this weekend. WHO is coordinating the deployment of foreign medical teams and humanitarian organizations to priority districts based on the needs of affected populations and the capacities of partner organizations. Field hospitals are being set up on the site of the 4 non-functioning district hospitals, id...
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