One of the oldest Journal has published about the medical crisis in Nepal in its editorial. Here Pharmasastra team present the full article along with its source.
Editorial: The Lancet7 months ago, Nepal was hit by two major earthquakes, killing more than 8500 people, injuring thousands more, and leaving millions in need of humanitarian assistance. The devastation to the Himalayan nation received worldwide media coverage. But another, less visible crisis is unfolding in the country as it continues to recover from not only natural disaster but also a decade-long civil war.On Sept 20, Nepal's new constitution came into effect— its first democratic one, and a historic step. However, some communities (including some with close ethnic ties to India) say the constitution discriminates against them. One, the Madhesis, have been protesting along the India–Nepal border, stopping supply trucks from India entering Nepal. India, meanwhile, stands accused of tacitly supporting the demonstrators and imposing an unofficial blockade to Nepal. Essential supplies, including food, medicines, and fuel, are being slowed or stopped from crossing the border. The consequences for earthquake-affected villages and high-altitude or remote regions, which are dependent on assistance, and will be soon cut off by harsh winter conditions, are of particular concern.UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, has expressed alarm over the situation and iterated Nepal's right of free transit as a land-locked nation as well as for humanitarian reasons. As a letter in today'sLancet by Jaya Lamichhane notes, the blockade is having a direct effect on the country's health system. It is limiting provision of basic health and emergency services, putting patients at risk of increased morbidity and mortality. Transportation and cold chains for vaccines have been affected, presenting a threat to disease control and elimination efforts. Global health security is also compromised; Nepal's resilience and response capacity to re-emerging and emerging risks such as avian influenza is being diminished.India must stop any involvement in the blockade and help its neighbour to peacefully resolve this crisis. It is not just the health of Nepal's population that is at risk if infectious disease control is weakened and instability is increased. As Lamichhane concludes, “Any blockade in this globalised world not only challenges the country ‘blocked’ but also challenges other countries.”