Cold is the main health threat after the Bam earthquake
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《英国医生杂志》
London
Two weeks after the earthquake that hit southern Iran, killing over a third of Bam's population of 90 000, efforts have moved from the initial rescue operation to longer term rehabilitation and recovery.
The main hospital buildings in Bam, and most urban and rural health clinics in the area, have collapsed, and many medical staff and health workers were killed or injured. The earthquake ruined 95 of the area's 96 community healthcare units, all 23 health centres, and two of three hospitals, says the health ministry.
According to the World Health Organization, 12 000 of the 30 000 injured people have been airlifted to hospitals in other parts of the country. The earthquake, which measured 6.8 on the Richter scale, also destroyed more than 20 000 homes, leaving survivors desperate for shelter.
"The biggest health challenge we are facing at the moment is the threat posed by the cold, which means that pneumonia and respiratory tract infections will increase, particularly among vulnerable children," said Dr Richard Munz, health coordinator in Bam for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
The Iranian Red Crescent has distributed 92 000 tents, as well as 200 000 blankets, 56 000 items of clothing, and 51 000 paraffin heaters.
As well as emergency field hospitals provided by over a dozen countries, including a team from the United States, a fully equipped 250 bed referral hospital has been provided by the German, Finnish, and Norwegian Red Cross Societies to cater to 250 000 people in the surrounding area.
Iran's Red Crescent members carry wounded people on to a military aircraft
Credit: HASAN SARBAKHSHIAN/AP
Dr Hussein A Gezairy, regional director of WHO, said: "The priorities are to take care of the survivors, reduce the negative health impacts of the harsh environmental conditions on them, re-establish systems that keep a look out for communicable diseases, and—if they are detected—make sure that they are quickly controlled, and restart healthcare services ensuring adequate psychological counselling and care to those who survived the tragedy."
WHO is appealing for $3.5m (￡1.9m; 2.8m) for immediate use by the Iranian authorities to purchase supplies and provide vital public health services.(Peter Moszynski)
Two weeks after the earthquake that hit southern Iran, killing over a third of Bam's population of 90 000, efforts have moved from the initial rescue operation to longer term rehabilitation and recovery.
The main hospital buildings in Bam, and most urban and rural health clinics in the area, have collapsed, and many medical staff and health workers were killed or injured. The earthquake ruined 95 of the area's 96 community healthcare units, all 23 health centres, and two of three hospitals, says the health ministry.
According to the World Health Organization, 12 000 of the 30 000 injured people have been airlifted to hospitals in other parts of the country. The earthquake, which measured 6.8 on the Richter scale, also destroyed more than 20 000 homes, leaving survivors desperate for shelter.
"The biggest health challenge we are facing at the moment is the threat posed by the cold, which means that pneumonia and respiratory tract infections will increase, particularly among vulnerable children," said Dr Richard Munz, health coordinator in Bam for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
The Iranian Red Crescent has distributed 92 000 tents, as well as 200 000 blankets, 56 000 items of clothing, and 51 000 paraffin heaters.
As well as emergency field hospitals provided by over a dozen countries, including a team from the United States, a fully equipped 250 bed referral hospital has been provided by the German, Finnish, and Norwegian Red Cross Societies to cater to 250 000 people in the surrounding area.
Iran's Red Crescent members carry wounded people on to a military aircraft
Credit: HASAN SARBAKHSHIAN/AP
Dr Hussein A Gezairy, regional director of WHO, said: "The priorities are to take care of the survivors, reduce the negative health impacts of the harsh environmental conditions on them, re-establish systems that keep a look out for communicable diseases, and—if they are detected—make sure that they are quickly controlled, and restart healthcare services ensuring adequate psychological counselling and care to those who survived the tragedy."
WHO is appealing for $3.5m (￡1.9m; 2.8m) for immediate use by the Iranian authorities to purchase supplies and provide vital public health services.(Peter Moszynski)