Association of Medical Doctors of ASIA, founded in 1984, Consultative Status with UN ECOSOC since 1995

Nepal earthquake – an overview 
Nepal was hit by earthquake of magnitude 7.8 on Richter scale around 11:56 a.m. local time on April 25, 2015 causing injuries, disabilities, deaths and structural damage beyond proportion. Besides, a huge aftershock happened on 12 May, 2015 (magnitude - 7.2) created extra burden to the country in terms of rescue and relief.

International Medical relief efforts by AMDA
Association of Medical Doctors of Asia (AMDA) International has been pioneering in disaster relief work worldwide since 1984. The AMDA International medical team members from Japan, Nepal, India, Cambodia, Philippines and Bangladesh were involved in the relief operations in worst affected districts. AMDA –Nepal coordinated planning and execution of medical relief efforts in either urban or rural areas.

Medical Relief operations in Nuwakot district:
A make shift camp base was established in Kabilash village of Nuwakot district. The area had population of 6000 which lived in about 1200 households. Of 1200 houses in Kabilash village, almost 90% were damaged and 45 of them totally destroyed.
The Medical relief camp was attached to the Community Health Center to provide emergency medical relief at Kabilash village. Injuries, Fever, Respiratory infections, Asthma, Diarrhoea, Skin Infections and Acid peptic Diseases were the most common health problems. This could be due to improper hygiene and poor environmental conditions.  Majority of the victims had fear, anxiety and uncertainty because of repeated aftershocks. Severe Injuries were more common among elderly and disabled population due to the pull and push of the panic situation when the big aftershock occurred.

Recommendations:
• Counselling services: Counselling services should be made available immediately after the any natural disaster to reduce psychosocial trauma of disaster victims.
• Rehabilitation- Earthquake resistant architecture: Reinforced Cement Concrete Slab (RCC) buildings could be the safe alternative to mud and stone roofing structure in the villages.