Saturday's magnitude 7.9 earthquake that struck Nepal has prompted government officials to announce a national state of emergency as the death toll raised to more than 4,000. Hospitals are overwhelmed with the intensity of the casualties and injuries as they struggle to treat thousands of earthquake survivors.
"The earthquake has exposed that Nepal's best public hospital infrastructure has crumbled at a time when it should serve more people in a hurry," Sarvendra Moongla, a senior surgeon told Reuters.
Based on a 2011 WHO report, the country has 2.1 physicians and 50 hospital beds for every 10,000 patients. Nepal is home to more than 28 million people. Doctors at one hospital said they only have a 200-bed capacity and now they are in need of 1,000 more beds.
With the massive rescue operations conducted in the country, aftershocks continue to threaten the surrounding areas which are now more of rubbles of stones, pillars and ruins. Thousands of injured earthquake survivors are under treatment at public hospitals in Kathmandu and Pokhara. However, tens of thousands of people are in need of shelter, ABC News reports.
The death toll is likely to increase as rescuers are having a daunting task to reach remote regions in the mountainous country. Reuters reports that this is the worst tragedy that hit Nepal since 1934. Many are still trapped in Mt. Everest as an avalanche went downhill trapping mountain climbers and killing 17 of them.
Patients are being discharged prematurely to pave way for new patients. Children who are injured are laid on the dusty marble floors of the hospital and most patients are situated outside the hospital under tents.
Many countries are extending their help to Nepal through donations and private health organizations are sending medical aid to the country.
