southern flood victims in diseases and serious stress

BANGKOK, 4 April 2011 (NNT) – The Ministry of Public Health is providing full medical care both in physical and mental health, for southern flood victims after many of them are found to experience flood related diseases and serious stress.

Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit reported that there were 18,378 patients receiving medical treatment from mobile units sent to take care of southern flood victims from 26 March to 2 April 2011. Most of them had respiratory diseases, tinea pedis and rashes.

As for mental health problems, there were 69 patients seeking consultations with 15 cases in high stress and seven cases in depression. Causes of the mental health attack were varied ranging from the changing living conditions, losses of property and loved ones during the major flood and landslide.

According to the Emergency Medical Institute of Thailand, the death toll currently stands at 45 with one person missing. Nakhon Si Thammarat has the highest number of deaths with 19 cases, followed by Surat Thani, Krabi and Phatthalung with ten, nine and three cases respectively. Trang and Chumphon have two cases each.

Deputy Permanent Secretary for Public Health Medical Doctor Narong Sahamaethapat stated that two mobile medical units have been dispatched to major evacuation spots, together with 150 personnel at Tham Kop Monastery and 100 personnel at Wat Thep Phanom School in Krabi.