Body claims low-cost emergency care treatment

Kathmandu, January 28:

Poisoning may be one of the leading causes of mortality. But preventive measures can save innumerbale lives.

However, a majority of people are still ignorant about a centre — it has been around for a while — that provides emergency service to casualties. Dr Shyam Lohani,

clinical director, Nepal Drug and Poison Information Centre (NDPIC), said that the centre helped to lessen emergency care costs. “It rapidly identifies low-risk chemicals that make the treatment relatively inexpensive,” he explained.

Addressing a programme, organised by Nepal Academy of Science and Technology, he informed that the NDPIC provide specialised services to both public and health professionals.

“We don’t have any standard practice to handle poisioning cases . A concrete plan and programme on toxicology is the need of the hour to safeguard the public’s health,” he urged.

Cases studies reveal that victims are mostly children, who swallow insecticides, pesticides,

germicides, hydrocarbon, household chemicals

and pediatric medicines. The overdose often proves to be fatal.

“Easy availability of new chemicals for industrial, agricultural and household use have led to an increase in number of poisoining cases,” he added. The NDPIC is working in tandem with health professionals to make them aware of the growing trends.

The body treats cases of acute poisoning, overdose, snake and insects’ bites and stings, pesticide abuse, food poisoning and adverse reactions to drugs and chemicals.