Hospitals in worst quake-affected districts of Nepal destroyed: WHO

Hospitals in four Nepali districts worst-affected in the April 25 earthquake are completely destroyed or too badly damaged to function, the World Health Organization said here on Friday.

These districts are Ramechhap, Trishuli, Chautara and Rasuwa.

"A rapid assessment of health-care facilities by WHO and the health ministry in the earthquake-stricken areas has found that hospitals in four of the worst-affected districts are completely destroyed or too badly damaged to function," the WHO said in a statement.

Five other major hospitals, providing important health-care in the districts, were found to be functioning but urgently in need of further medical supplies, it said.

Preliminary findings from the assessment found that while there was a shortage of supplies, sufficient health personnel were available to treat patients arriving in the functioning hospitals.

"WHO staff have been working round the clock to gather this snapshot of the damage inflicted on Nepal's hospitals and clinics by the earthquake," said Lin Aung, WHO's country representative for Nepal.

"This information will be a vital tool in guiding the short- to medium-term response by national and international health-care providers, determining where to move health teams and supplies in the country."

Teams visited 21 hospitals in 12 of the districts impacted severely by the April 25 earthquake to gather information and found that a total of 17 hospitals were still operational.

"Many hospitals told the assessment teams that they were experiencing a shortage of supplies, including essential medicines, surgery kits, IV fluids, antibiotics and suturing materials, while tents and mattresses were also required," it said.

WHO has already provided essential medicines, supplies, and trauma and surgical kits to treat 1,20,000 people for three months. Additional supplies, including medical tents, are scheduled to arrive in Kathmandu this weekend.

WHO is coordinating the deployment of foreign medical teams and humanitarian organisations to priority districts based on the needs of affected populations and the capacities of partner organisations.