South Asia Monsoon Creates Staggering Health Crises

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

JC Jones MA RN

"Bangladesh, Nepal, India and Vietnam have been devastated by flooding, creating health crises effecting 30 million people. Children, comprising 40% of the area population, are particularly vulnerable. People have lost shelter, access to clean water, transportation, health care, sanitation and food. The size of the area affected, the scale of the flooding, the number of people who are vulnerable pose an unprecedented challenge to relief agencies like UNICEF.

Emergency assessment and coordination has begun to deliver the following:

• Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS)
• Water purification tablets
• BP-5 nutritious biscuits
• plastic sheets and tarpaulins
• bleaching powder and chlorine tablets
• mosquito nets
• jerry cans
• food
• potable water
• temporary shelter
• buckets
• blankets
• first aid kits
  

Health care problems reported are diarrhea, snake bites, acute respiratory infections, and water borne illnesses.

2007 is proving to be a very busy year for extreme weather around the world - and humans are dealing with adverse health effects. Flooding in Great Britain and Pakistan, heat wave in southeast Europe and China, snowfall in South America. I don't know about you, but I think it's time we stop spending $ on war and arms and spend $ on preventing environmental and health catastrophes.




Thank you Fugu Numb Mouth for use of photo Amidst the Flood (Burma).

Labels: aid, extreme weather, health crises

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