Medical relief work 2010

Ladakh Institute of prevention (LIP) extends integrated health care programme to Flash flood affected villages in .

Ecofragile Ladakh witnessed the worst ever flash flood , the extend of such huge loss of lives and properties was unheard of in the . Events of August 5/6, 2010 still haunts the Ladakhis and many survivors suffer from post-traumatic stress disorders. The dreadful thunder and lightning, the dirty black clouds preceeding the cloudburst in , Sabu, fiyang, Taru, Nimo, Basgo,,Skurbuchan, Gya miru, Tyakshi ,and Skyu Marka claimed over 300 lives besides massive destruction of the cultivated lands, pastures, trees and cattle in large numbers. The District administration, Army, ITBP, Local volunteers, national and international tourists rendered rescue operation on war footing while the dark clouds continued to hang around for another week forcing people to find night shelter at hill tops and elevated areas . Vulnerable were those who defied the old wisdom and had constructed their home and properties in the flood prone areas. Immediate attention was given to restore the Hospital services and to provide shelter to the homeless survivors. Aids started coming in from Government, Philanthropic institutions, corporate sectors, Civil Society, individuals, communities and international organisations. Medical aid camps were provided by the Government health services, Red Cross society and by many NGO’s. Ladakh intstitute of prevention joined Ladakh heart foundation and Government medical aid camps initially during the crisis. Later LIP decided to carry on an integrated systemic health survey cum treatment camps in the flood affected villages. The services provided included clinical examination, treatment (dressing, medicines) investigation in the form of blood sugar estimation, lipid profile, HBsAg, Blood pressure measurement, Height, weight measurements (BMI) waist circumference, SpO2, ECG, CAVI ( cardio-ankle vascular index),Questionnaire on core-behaviour like tobacco, alcohol, diet, physical activity, Validated questionnaire on depression screening (PHQ-2, PHQ-9)and cognitive function test questionnaire like MMSE. GDS, ADL, (for senior citizens) and health awareness campaign and counselling. LIP has prepared a booklet on healthy life style and a documentary film on this subject which we intend to distribute free of cost and will revisit all these areas and those already not covered in spring when the weather in conducive for everybody.

1 Name of the village Date on which relief camp Number subjects/patients Number of patients Remarks held. on whom complete check treated. up done For kharnakling village August31- 159 200 HBsAg +ve= 12 . september5,2010 Type 2 Diabetes=3 Prediabetics=4 Systemic hypertension=40 Pre-hypertension=50 Post-traumatic stress disorder= 10 For chumurling camp12 September 6-8,2010 124 175 HBs Ag+ve= 9 At choglamsar affected by Type 2 Diabetes=7 flash flood. Pre-diabetics=3 Systemic hypertension=30 CVA=1 RHD=1 Dhomkar(Three villages) September 11-15, 2010 109 150 HBsAg= None After the flash flood. Type 2 diabetes=8 Systemic hypertension=30 Taru, after the flash flood. October 29-30,2010 68 100 HBsAg +ve= 1 Type 2 diabetes= None Systemic hypertension=25 Post-traumatic stress disorder post flood=6

Phyang, After the flash November5-6,2010 103 130 HBsAg=1 flood. Type2 diabetes=1 Pre-diabetic=3 Post-traumatic stress disorder=3 systemicHypertension =35 2Solar colony where worst Every Tuesday and Friday 5-8 patients on each visit. Plan to do a detailed All kinds of ailments, affected homeless from 2-4 PM for any one Here people were busy in medical check up Sand minor injuries to medical survivors build 3 room requiring medical help. rehabilitation work. The health awareness and Psychiatric problems accommodation with labourers would also campaign in March, 2011 were attended. Worked relief support. attend. with the Govt run dispensary here.

View of Sabu and Choglamsar soon after the flash flood. The solar colony for the homeless survivors have been built now just above the central institute for

Buddhist studies. (Seen here as a confluence of buildings in yellow colour.) 3

Medical relief camps ( performing CAVI and ECG) Medical relief camp (Field laboratory, blood sugar, lipid profile,HBsAg)

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