Peru quake: equipment and laboratories among key needs
This article was originally published in Clinica
Replacing A&E equipment and restoring essential health services, including the laboratory testing that supports disease surveillance, are among the top priorities of recovery efforts in Peru's earthquake-stricken Ica region. Efforts are underway to define such needs and centrally co-ordinate the logistics involved. The WHO is setting up an information-sharing system to support these activities.
"Re-establishing local health services, emergency medical equipment and the epidemiological surveillance system are the current top priorities," said Dr Jean-Luc Poncelet, head of emergency preparedness and disaster relief at PAHO, on August 20.
There has been widespread and severe damage to "numerous hospitals and health centres", reports the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), including the total destruction of several hospitals and other facilities in and around the cities of Pisco and regional capital Ica, near the epicentre. Three health centres were destroyed as far as the remote cities of Castrovirreyna and Huancavelica. Further structural and functional assessments are underway.
At the time of going to press, PAHO told Clinica that a command centre was being set up, and that the health ministry would begin to provide daily updates of relief needs "within the next couple of days".