Doctors From Chennai Work Together To Help Victims Of The Nepal Earthquake

The Tamil Nadu Chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) reached out to the doctors and volunteers to seek out their services to help with the relief operations in Nepal. Around 40 doctors signed up for the program. "Every time there has been a natural calamity, doctors here have been quick to offer support," said IMA Tamil Nadu general secretary Dr.C.N. Raja. "We have sent out on an appeal to our members to give financial aid and volunteer in relief operations there. The list of doctors will be sent to IMA, Delhi, which will coordinate with the National Disaster Management Authority," he added.

Dr.Binu Lal Singh, a doctor from Kanyakumari, has signed up for the operations. "The scenes from the spot were heart wrenching. They clearly need more skilled hands there. I didn’t think twice when I got the message from IMA. I immediately gave my name," said Dr Singh, who has been practising for 17 years.

The IMA has already sent four teams from Delhi. The Chennai chapter is working towards forming more teams and has general physicians and emergency workers as of now. They plan to set up a team in Uttarakhand and coordinate with the Army. They will leave for Nepal in a week.

According to the Indian doctors who are treating victims, Kathmandu is in serious need of specialised doctors due to the risk of diseases. Serious diseases including diarrhoea and skin allergies are looming high in earthquake-battered Nepal due to the countless animal corpses lying out in the open. The number of patients with skin allergies is on the rise and lack of proper food, unhygienic environment and lack of doctors is accelerating the problem.

IMA in association with AIIMS had sent 10 teams of doctors immediately after the earthquake hit the Himalayan nation on April 25. IMA will also be dispatching a team of psychiatrists and psychologists to give counselling to victims suffering from mental trauma.

Source-Medindia