It is only 1156 on Saturday morning, exactly one week after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake shook Nepal on 25 April, shattering lives. Tens of thousands are either in hospital or still waiting for medical care in remote villages. Besides physical injuries, there is also mental trauma.
Psychologist Krista Rajkarnikar has been toiling in the corridors, stairs and the lawn of hospitals for 10-12 hours a day to assist as many patients as she can with counseling and advice. “Awareness and psychological first aid is the first step, after getting the basic needs met,” says Rajkarnikar, who has been working as a psychologist and therapist since 2014.
When most hospitals are overcrowded with patients and most medical providers are overwhelmed with trying to provide the best care, Rajkarnikar is one of the many who has lost track of days because she has been busy attending to people, day and night. “I have noticed a high level of anxiety among people, they did witness and experience a massive loss,” says Rajkarnikar solemnly, “many will need long term psychological care”.
All hospitals are focusing on physical health first, to check for injuries and internal bleeding: basically taking care of all emergency cases before focusing on psychological aspects. However Rajkarnikar added that hopefully there will be resources and support regarding psychological care once initial practical care is provided to all. It is not just the injured who need reassurance but also the families of the injured that need attention.
Most doctors and nurses walk around hospitals without rest checking up on hundreds of individuals and families all day. Then there are those who do not have families, all alone on a stretcher.
On a slightly positive side, all public and private hospitals are providing free medical care, which is beneficial for the thousands injured and the many more who are located every day and brought over. There is hope, then there is the fear of what will happen after this.
Rajkarnikar divides her time between several hospitals and clinics trying to treat as many people as possible, “It does get tiring but there is no time to stop, we treat many and still there are more left,” she says. The flow of patients to hospitals does not seem to end.
Life has been extremely busy for medical providers in the last week, but we have to admire these courageous individuals who have dedicated their services to help in such a time of need.
“We have faced a big loss and we will feel this for a long time. We will help but it is also important to take care of ourselves. Stay positive,” says Krista as she gets ready to make another round around the hospital in Kathmandu.
ANJANA RAJBHANDARY @AnjyRajy