KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 4
The flood has subsided, but indirect consequences such as diarrhoeal diseases, infectious diseases, skin disease, and mental health issues are emerging to challenge us, according to Dr. Ajay Singh Thapa, who spoke to the Himalayan Times today during an inspection to check on flood victims in a few hospitals following a few days of flooding in the valley.
"Following the recent flood, we had over 10 flood-impacted patients in B&B hospitals. We have seen a significant increase in patients, in addition to several other diseases such as diarrhoea, dengue fever, and trauma caused by flooding," stated Dr. Thapa, Head of Emergency Department and Chief Consultant at B&B Hospital in Gwarko, Lalitpur.
"One dead victim from the flood was brought to the B&B immediately after the landslip," he said. "She was a 65-year-old woman who was covered by a landslip for two hours in Sankha Devi, Lamatar area of Lalitpur. Another patient is still alive. She, too, is a victim of a landslide. These are the two major cases at B&B."
Dr. Thapa expressed belief that the aftermath of floods and landslides would make things more difficult for patients and victims.
"In addition, numerous places lack sanitation, which could exacerbate infectious diseases. So the disaster has passed, but a health disaster is looming if we fail to address it immediately. And if we do not do so, the situation will worsen. And we are prepared to work collaboratively because this is a national issue."
"This needs to be addressed immediately through sanitation and screening. We should also check the water sanitation in the affected areas. Rehabilitation, resettlement, and counselling should all be expanded with government assistance. Because they could have lost numerous important documents and left without money to get food and in mental trauma."
"Disasters are a common occurrence that necessitate a collaborative effort to mitigate their effects. Because disasters essentially mean challenges that outnumber our resources," he explained.
"So we all should come together to recover the resources, helping each other collaboratively because it requires multidimensional involvement," said Dr Thapa, who also serves as President of the Nepalese Society of Emergency Physicians.
"Hence, all stakeholders, including the health, social, and economic sectors, must collaborate to address the challenge. The victims might not have food, clothes and shelter. Because diarrhoeal diseases are going to significantly increase due to a lack of sanitation, and now is the time to start addressing these issues," he added.
"What I also anticipate in a few days is that indirect impacts from the disasters will cause significantly more damage," he told THT. "For example, infectious diseases associated with sanitation, fever, waterborne diseases, and skin diseases are expected to rise."
He also stated that these indirect effects will endanger people's health security due to water shortages. Because there is a scarcity of pure, safe water.
"This is also going to increase psychosocial issues like stress, which will have an indirect impact on health," he said. "This will exacerbate indirect health issues significantly. Because some patients could be discharged but are unable to leave because their home is flooded and unsafe. Furthermore, their socioeconomic status has deteriorated."
Dr. Thapa described this as the indirect impact because their home sanitation system has been completely destroyed.
Dr. Thapa also explained the stages of disasters, such as direct impact (damages, wounds, and cuts) and the most dangerous impact (aftermath), which occurs when floods have ended but psychosocial, socioeconomic, and sanitation issues remain. Furthermore, their physical infrastructures are damaged, preventing them from returning home. He also stated that the health minister was scheduled to visit the hospital and check on the victims.
Meanwhile, Minister of Health and Population Pradip Paudel visited the Patan Academy of Health Sciences (PAHS) staff and urged them to make it easier for citizens to access services. During today's PAHS inspection, he emphasised the importance of improving the academy's services.
"The services here are comparatively better, and they need to be improved further," he said. "The online service should be more effective."
PAHS Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Rajesh Nath Gongal stated that PAHS serves the greatest number of patients through its own funding and has requested that the Health Minister provide funding for the construction of a new hospital building.
