Rehabs for critically injured quake victims soon

KATHMANDU, June 1: Critically injured earthquake victims, who need prolonged medical care can heave a sigh of relief, as the government has decided to set up rehabilitation centers in several districts for them.

Injured quake victims will get free medication and shelter at the centers, officials at the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), said.

"We have already started a 200-bed rehabilitation center at Aayurvedic Hospital at Kritipur, where a Cuban Medical team has been providing care," Dr Gunaraj Lohani, spokesperson at the MoHP, said. He informed that the ministry has asked the hospitals like Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH), Bir Hospital, Civil Service Hospital and Patan Hospital, where critically injured victims have been receiving care, to send them to the rehab center.According to Dr Lohani, the medical team of Cuba has been providing good care to injured earthquake victims. "We supply the Cuban team with logistical support and they provide care," said Dr Lohani. He said that the ministry will continue the center even after the foreign medical team leaves.

The ministry said that it has been working to start rehab centers at Pokhara of Kaski, Nuwakot, Gorkha and in Sindhupalchowk districts. He informed that the ministry has been planning to set up 50-bed rehab center in Pokhara and 100-bed centers in other districts. He said that seriously injured earthquake victims get shelter and treatment in their own districts. "We are very serious about the condition of the critically-injured victims, "said Lohani, adding, "All the shelters will come into operation soon."

The MoHP informed that out of over 20,000 injured in devastating earthquake, over 2,300 people have sustained critical injuries. "Among the critically injured, some have lost all family members and are in need of lifelong care," Shanta Bahadur Shrestha, secretary at the MoHP, said. He claims that the ministry is serious about the plight of the quake victims.

According to Secretary Shrestha, the ministry will coordinate with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to run the rehab centers. He said that the ministry will provide logistical and technical support to the organizations, if they are willing to run such facilities.

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