Manama: Mahmood Rafique, Editor: The Kingdom of Bahrain has emerged among the first responders following the deadly earthquakes that hit Syria and Turkey leaving trail of horror and disaster behind.
Dr Waleed Al Manea, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Health, and member of the National Committee for Supporting Earthquake Victims in Syria and Turkey, who has recently visited Syria, on the sidelines of the Press conference said that it was an honour for him to be a member of the Relief Committee.
“The Ministry of Health and the people of Bahrain were the first to respond to help the brotherly people of both countries and carryout relief efforts in the wake of such a big scale of disasters,” he said.
“We at the ministry took swift action following HM King’s directives for dispatching cargo shipments and relief goods for the brotherly people of Syria and Turkey following the devastating earthquakes which left thousands dead and millions homeless.”
Dr Al Manae while explaining the strategy to cope with disaster hit areas are divided into three phases being the first phase shipment of medication, surgical items, medical equipment, IV solutions.
“These medical essentials are needed for emergencies cases and mainly in the first week of natural disaster and this phase also brings stability to life. Also, surgical items are very crucial for treating traumas and orthopedic cases.”
“The swift action by Team Bahrain has reduced the time between the phase one and two that is evaluation of the situation. The evaluation is for what more is needed or to be shipped, any support for medical doctors and what will be needed for long term support such as hospitals, health centres, some rehabilitation, psychological support, psychiatric consultation,” he added.
“The Ministry has to customise its checklist for that we have to get the details from other partners or countries working side by side in the affected areas. Once we received the information we customise shipments for Turkey and Syria.”
“We communicated with authorities of both countries from time to time as soon as we received orders from HM the King to provide aid for the people of both countries.
“The relief efforts preparation was a great success because as we dispatched the medical supplies within a week or so and we found due to devastation the infrastructure destroyed and they need reconstruction of facilities.
“In some areas the infrastructure so badly damaged that it needed an immediate reconstruction especially in medical care including equipment and the diagnostic and treatment capacity building across many areas of both countries.”
“In post disasters scenario, outbreak of epidemics can be another challenge and how to control spread of viruses, and bacteria and can be threat to health systems of the neighbouring or regional countries.
The Ministry of Health has to coordinate with the WHO, Bahraini authorities and governments of other countries in order to contain the possible spread of diseases that could be erupted in the aftermath.
“So, this is our plan for the medical health system, to construct a new health centre which will be more like a small hospital that will be customized with whatever they need. The ministry has a representative on ground to evaluate the situation and have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the High Commissioner of UNCHR to reconstruct a health centre and three schools.”
Dr Al Manae said the reconstruction of these facilities are being negotiated because it’s something that has to be maintained for a long time. Bahrain will be supporting the health centre following its construction.
“At present the situation on the ground is very challenging because there is no infrastructure at all and no electricity supplies, no water, nothing is there. So, it’s very difficult even now to say how long it will take until all support services are made available to kickstart operation of any health facility.
