Wayanad landslide survivors need not only physical help but also mental support: Medical college doctor
Aug 01, 2024
Wayanad (Kerala) [India], August 1 : A doctor in charge of a medical college in Wayanad where several of the injured in the landslides have been admitted said that the patients need not only physical help but also mental support to recover from the trauma they suffered.
"It has been a catastrophe and is unfortunate. Three staff members are missing and body of one has been recovered. 16 of our staff have lost homes. We have treated 176 landslides patients out of which 11 are in the Intensive Care Unit," said Dr Zeba Moopen, Trustee Moopens Medical College and Director, Aster DM Healthcare.
She said that her hospital treated the landslide-injured patients free of cost.
"It is our responsibility to help our people as much as possible when things like this happen our people rally. Every one of our staff was here in the forefront doing what we had to do. Right now we have 70 patients remaining. Three are in critical condition. That is how it stands right now A lot of them were discharged but there is a lot of work to be done and we are here and we are supporting the people," she said.
Zeba Moopen also talked about the importance of addressing the mental trauma of many of the survivors of the landslides.
"After the physical trauma comes the mental trauma and you are seeing that people who are broken have lost everything including everyone in the family. A single person is remaining in some families. And it has just broken them. We will also be part of the rebuilding effort which will have to come in full force. Our psychiatry team is also supporting counselling people.
"Mobilize as many resources as possible to provide not only physical support but also mental support at this time. But it is going to take community and the support of a lot of people to rebuild this community," she said.
Two massive landslides struck Mundakkai and Churalmala in Wayanad in the early hours of July 30, causing extensive destruction, loss of lives, and injury to hundreds, as per the Kerala Revenue Department. The death toll in the tragedy has crossed 200 and many are still missing.
