WHO Warns About Increased Risk of Disease in Nepal
The World Health Organization’s (WHO) medical officer and public health and health systems administrator, Frank Paulin, is saying Nepal’s recent earthquake has increased the risks for patients suffering from a range of diseases.
“The disruption of medication, especially for major diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, can be very dangerous and even life-threatening,” he said in a statement made available to The Jakarta Post on Sunday.
Similarly, Paulin said, disrupting medicines for people with chronic respiratory diseases like asthma could put them at increased risk of diseases such as the seasonal flu.
Hospitals within the Lalitpur district have reported a spike in patients who have increased blood pressure, a phenomenon reportedly linked to the earthquake. While oral medication and insulin supplies to treat diabetes are reported as being adequate at the government-run Patan Hospital, in areas outside of the Kathmandu valley the difficulties are more acute.
“Drug availability at the district level is constantly monitored by WHO staff and this information is provided on a daily basis to the government’s Health Emergency Operations Center,” said Paulin.
“This information will be used to dispatch drugs to the districts as well as to prompt logistics groups to take action to ensure stock levels,” he went on.
Apart from trauma patients, people with chronic diseases, including tuberculosis, are receiving continuing care from medical teams operating in earthquake-hit Nepal.
A rapid assessment of TB needs is currently underway, which will outline how TB patients will be reached and provided with ongoing treatment, especially those in remote districts.
Once traced, patients will be tested and provided the appropriate treatment and counseling in order to prevent further incidents of the disease. (ebf)(+++)