Ministry takes urgent measures
POST REPORT
KATHMANDU, Sept 7 - Fearing outbreak of diseases in flood hit districts, Ministry of Health and Population has decided to supply essential medicines to temporary camps for displaced people. The Ministry formed a three member committee to ensure prompt arrangement of medicine through fastest possible way to avoid bureaucratic hassles in purchase of medicines in case of epidemic. Dr Laxmi Bikram Thapa, director of Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD), one of the team members that visited camps in flood-hit areas said the Ministry fears outbreak of communicable diseases like cholera, typhoid and jaundice. "It will be very tough for us to handle the situation if there is an outbreak, therefore we are busy preparing to prevent the possible worst situation.
The ministry formed a committee headed by Dr Ningmar Sherpa, Director of Supply Division to arrange medicines. The committee has a member each from the Department of Drugs Administration and EDCD. Representatives of pharmaceutical companies in the country and drugs dealers from outside the country have agreed to provide medicine at the lowest cost possible.
According to Dr Thapa, associations of doctors, nurses and other health staff have assured the ministry necessary human resources at a separate meeting held with the health minister and other divisional chiefs of the ministry. "We will send the teams as per the demand of the districts," he said. Likewise, Association of Pharmaceutical Producers of Nepal will hand over medicine worth Rs 70,000 to EDCD on Monday for flood-hit areas.
Source: The Kathmandu Post, 8 September 2008
KATHMANDU, Sept 7 - Fearing outbreak of diseases in flood hit districts, Ministry of Health and Population has decided to supply essential medicines to temporary camps for displaced people. The Ministry formed a three member committee to ensure prompt arrangement of medicine through fastest possible way to avoid bureaucratic hassles in purchase of medicines in case of epidemic. Dr Laxmi Bikram Thapa, director of Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD), one of the team members that visited camps in flood-hit areas said the Ministry fears outbreak of communicable diseases like cholera, typhoid and jaundice. "It will be very tough for us to handle the situation if there is an outbreak, therefore we are busy preparing to prevent the possible worst situation.
The ministry formed a committee headed by Dr Ningmar Sherpa, Director of Supply Division to arrange medicines. The committee has a member each from the Department of Drugs Administration and EDCD. Representatives of pharmaceutical companies in the country and drugs dealers from outside the country have agreed to provide medicine at the lowest cost possible.
According to Dr Thapa, associations of doctors, nurses and other health staff have assured the ministry necessary human resources at a separate meeting held with the health minister and other divisional chiefs of the ministry. "We will send the teams as per the demand of the districts," he said. Likewise, Association of Pharmaceutical Producers of Nepal will hand over medicine worth Rs 70,000 to EDCD on Monday for flood-hit areas.
Source: The Kathmandu Post, 8 September 2008
