Effects of quake-relief work show on doctors

Effects of quake-relief work show on doctors
HAIMA DESHPANDE

MUMBAI, FEB 1: The strain of providing round-the-clock relief operations in Gujarat is beginning to tell on doctors and paramedical staff. Some of them who have returned after putting in days of relief work, have started showing signs of stress-related problems.

Said Dr Neha Abraham, psychiatrist, "The doctors and paramedical staff will definitely need psychiatric and specialised counselling. The destruction is too gory. I came back yesterday and am still shaken by the scene there. I can't sleep or eat. I know I need help." Other doctors too echoed similar sentiments.

Given their punishing work schedule, a majority of the relief doctors will need specialised counselling to get over the unrelenting exposure to scenes of gore and blood, say medical practitioners.

Taking into consideration the stress-related ailments that doctors in the crisis zone are vulnerable to, the Maharashtra government has now decided to despatch a team of psychiatrists from the prestigious Regional Mental Hospital in Pune.

To prevent cases of burnout due to extreme stress, the state government here has also decided to deploy relay medical teams in Gujarat every three days, to ensure that doctors who are already on the job get some respite.

The government has taken a decision to send doctors and paramedical staff in rotation to Bhuj, Ahmedabad, Bachhau and other quake affected parts in Gujarat.

"Doctors are also at the risk of contracting HIV and Hepatitis B as there are few gloves available. We request doctors to go for relief work armed with their own supply of gloves and necessities," said Dr Nishikant Palande, surgeon. "It's better to take extra precautions than to be sorry afterwards. With all of us stressed out and fatigued, we face a greater risk of being afflicted with illnesses," he said.

Another problem area is faulty medical equipment. A number of doctors who have returned from affected areas have complained that it is an impediment and is slowing down relief work.

According to the doctors, faulty X-ray machines are a major problem. "A number of children have been exposed to higher sensitivity X-rays in the course of the procedure. We are using the machines which are available at the local hospitals. These machines do not work properly and the sensitivity too is quite high. As we have to be doubly careful when using it, work has been affected. In most cases, we were using our judgement rather than the equipment," said Dr Trilok Sharma, surgeon. He returned to Mumbai on Wednesday after a non-stop four-day gruelling schedule.

The Maharashtra minister for Public Health, Medical Education and Family Planning, Digvijay Khanvilkar had requested Siemens to provide mobile X-Ray machines. The company donated two mobile X-Ray machines (Multimobil 2.5) along with generators which were despatched to Bachhau (the village adopted by the Maharashtra government) on Wednesday.

These machines are exported by the company to the European market. In India, the Army Hospital is their biggest domestic buyer.