Nepal has been badly affected by flood and there is possibility of outbreak of waterborne diseases. The Health Ministry has directed all the central-level hospitals and medical colleges to prepare an emergency teams to combat the situation and have asked international agencies to join in for help
KRC TIMES Desk
Nepal has been hit by heavy rainfall since 11th July, Thursday 2019. More than 25 districts and 10,385 households have been affected due to the flood. Nepal has appealed to the international agencies for help to prevent the possible water-borne diseases and to ensure proper health services to the ten thousand people affected by the incessant rains. So far it has claimed 67 live.
The normal life is running out of gear due to heavy rain in the in central and eastern parts of the country. Thirty-two people are reported to be missing.
Many parts of Kathmandu, including Kalanki, Kupondole, Kuleshwor, Makawanpur, Dhanusha, Khotang, Kavre, Sunsari, Ramechhap, Chitawan and Balkhu were submerged under water on Friday.
Nepal Police said that they have rescued 1,445 stranded people from different parts of the country, including Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Dhading, Rautahat, Chitawan and Siraha. An emergency meeting was called on Sunday, 14th Jul 2019 to take stock of the damages caused by the rains. The Health Emergency Operation Centre has been set up by the Ministry of Health and Population, which have asked their international partner agencies for help.
During the meeting at the Health Ministry, the centre have informed representatives of the agencies about the possible risk of disease outbreaks in the affected districts.
The Health Ministry has also directed all the central-level hospitals and medical colleges to prepare emergency teams of doctors to be mobilised in the disaster-hit areas.Those teams would coordinate with the provincial and local governments to ensure health services to the needy people. The health experts have warned of a possible outbreak of waterborne diseases-diarrhoea, dysentery, typhoid, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis E in the flood-hit areas. They fear that most of the water resources have been contaminated by floodwaters.
The division has also urged all provincial governments to not allow health workers to take leave during the monsoon, which is considered an epidemic season. Provinces of Lalitpur, Bhojpur and Rautahat are reportedly witnessing the highest death toll. The provincial governments have decided to provide relief for flood and landslide victims too. They will also be providing free medical treatment to the 38 people who have been injured so far.
They have warned people to remain at high alert, as the risk of landslides has increased due to continuous rainfall since past four days.The Meteorological Forecasting Division (MFD) have warned the public to remain on high alert and have said that air and road traffic could be affected due to low visibility.
