KATHMANDU, Jan. 13: Immediate first aid to victims of any natural disaster saves a lot of life and also property. Training and equipping the first respondents are of vital importance to lessen the impact of disaster.So far, Nepal has only 24 personnel trained as Medical First Responder to any disaster. The number is far too low for a country prone to both natural and man-made disaster from floods, landslides and earthquakes to outbreak of diseases and epidemics.

With a view to mitigating the impact of possible natural disasters in Nepal, a two-week-long Medical First Responder (MFR) training for officials working in the field of disaster management is underway. The training is being organised by the Regional Center on Disaster Preparedness.

This is the second time the Bangkok-based Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC) is organising the training in association with USAID and the Home Ministry. The center had organised a similar training in Pokhara last year. This is the first time civil society organisations have been included in the training, said training coordinator Dr. Kulesh Thapa. The training aims at educating officials on ways of tackling victims during pre-hospital management or before rushing them into hospitals, Thapa added.

More than two dozen officials from the Royal Nepalese Army, Nepal Police, Nepal Red Cross Society and the concerned civil society organisations are attending the training.

The training provides ways of coping with emergency situations during disasters such as earthquakes, fires and epidemics. “The training will help rescue operators to integrate skills for disaster management, and is vital to rescue and save the lives of people in disaster.”

The total capacity of the hospitals in Kathmandu, including private nursing homes, does not exceed 4,000 beds. Hence, any major calamity would require pre-hospital management to save the lives of the people.

It is estimated that a severe earthquake in Kathmandu could kill anywhere between 40,000 to 50,000 people, and would leave an equal number injured and wounded needing immediate medical assistance.

As Nepal lies in a highly disaster-prone zone, we need adequate manpower for pre-hospital medical services. The two dozen personnel that we have now is inadequate, said Dr.Thapa.

Dr. Keshar Jung Rayamajhi, Chairman of Rajparishad Standing Committee, inaugurating the training stressed on sufficient manpower during rescue operations. Dwelling on Nepal’s contribution in international peacekeeping, he said that the Nepalese had shown great efficiency in disaster management.

Seven instructors, one each from India and The Philippines and five from the Nepal Police, Nepal Red Cross Society and the Health Ministry, are conducting the training.