The Hindu Business Line : Killer-wave and the aftershock

"SOME of them are plain guilty to be alive, after seeing loved ones die virtually in front of their eyes," says Dr Mira Shiva of the Voluntary Health Association of India (VHAI), explaining the shock that victims of Sunday's killer-wave must be living with.

But dealing with the trauma that follows a disaster will be the next step of any rehabilitation plan, the first being keeping water and vector borne diseases at bay, she said. On the ground, medical authorities will have to watch for gastroenteritis, cholera, dysentery, diarrhoea, typhoid and hepatitis. Most often, simple steps like giving drinking water in disposable containers or making mobile toilets available at the disaster area can prevent outbreak of an epidemic, she points out.

Dr Shiva is also part of the People's Health Movement and has been on the disaster-management and rehabilitation teams that have toured Gujarat after the Bhuj earth-quake and Orissa, after the floods.

After the Latur and Bhuj earth-quakes, one has seen the post-traumatic stress syndrome, more so in women. Groups of people are working in such areas in a protracted fashion. But it needs to be an integral part of relief and rehabilitation plans, she said.

As the waves recede, puddles of water are left behind and this would be contaminated as a result of dead bodies etc. so decontamination of the place should be a high priority. Besides, stagnant water acts as breeding grounds for malaria, filaria and dengue, she adds.

Sounding a note of caution on the medicines being sent to the disaster areas, she said, authorities need to check that medicines are not even close to the date of expiry.

"Rehabilitating the psychological impact following the loss of life and property will be done, but in the second phase," concurs Mr Karthik Rajagopal, General Manager (Healthcare services), Apollo group of hospitals. Having visited one of the relief centres set-up by the hospitals-group in Chennai, he said: "We are looking at day-to-day needs, like drinking water, utensils, food and clothing."

Meanwhile, pharmaceutical associations are routing medicines through the Chemicals and Fertiliser Ministry to affected areas. The Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance — comprising Ranbaxy, Dr Reddy's, Sun Pharma, Glenmark etc - has pledged Rs one crore worth of medicines. The medicine basket is made up of antibiotics, anti-infectives, anti-pyretics, insulin, de-worming tablets etc, an IPA official said. On similar lines, the Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India or a forum for multinational drug firms has also promised medicines through the apex ministry.

Located in Bangalore, Mr Vishal Bali, Vice-President-Operations with Wockhardt Hospitals, has also pledged medical support to health authorities in the disaster-hit states.

More Stories on : Natural Calamities | Pharmaceuticals | Health

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page