Society
Risk of disease growing in mudslide-stricken region
By Peng Yining and Wang Qian (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-08-11 07:31
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The temporary medical center is located in the lobby of the school, about 100 square meters, and doctors' tables are made of several school desks pushed together. Only minor injuries and diseases like cold and fever can be treated under such conditions, doctors said.
All the 11 doctors in the center, who are from hospitals in other regions of the Gannan Tibetan autonomous prefecture, arrived in Zhouqu on Sunday afternoon right after the mudslide. Zhouqu has set up five such medical centers.
To prevent diseases, the local disease control bureau is sending people every day to disinfect all the settlements as well as public places like schools and garbage collection sites.
Deng Situo, a 42-year-old worker in a local disease control bureau, said every day more than 250 disinfection tablets are used, covering 10 classrooms and several toilets.
"It takes six people and at least two hours for every disinfection and we do the disinfection about six times a day," Deng said.
On the scene, a China Daily reporter witnessed that most medical staff and soldiers had white towels instead of masks over their faces during work, which shows masks and disinfection materials are still in great need.
The Ministry of Health has sent 21 medical teams and 363 medical staff to Zhouqu to provide medical aid, Deng Haihua, spokesman of the ministry, said at a news conference on Tuesday.
"The ministry has cooperated with the military and airlines to get ready for the transport of the injured, and an expert team has been set up to help the severely injured get necessary treatment within 48 hours," Deng said.
As of Monday afternoon, the Zhouqu county hospital has treated 117 injured people, including 29 who were severely wounded, according to the latest statistics from the ministry.