From the President -Message for Nepal and reply

Prof Michael Kidd sends a message to colleagues in Nepal and Prof Pratap Prasad from Nepal tells how you can help.

The global community is saddened by the tragic consequences of the earthquake, and the subsequent aftershocks and avalanches, in Nepal. Our thoughts are with all the people in Nepal and surrounding nations affected by this tragedy, including all our colleagues who are members of the General Practitioners' Association of Nepal, our WONCA member organisation.

This tragedy will have touched the lives of everyone in Nepal and are thoughts are with all our colleagues at this sad time, including our WONCA Regional President for South Asia, Professor Pratap Prasad and his family members in Kathmandu, and our many family medicine colleagues based in Kathmandu and in other affected urban, rural and remote locations across the country. Already we are receiving reports of how our colleagues in Nepal are reaching out to assist and support all those who have been affected by this tragic event.

At times of terrible tragedy, those of us based in other parts of the world often wish we could make a difference and reach out and provide assistance. In the early stages following such an event, the best advice is to provide financial support to a trusted and experienced non-government organisation (NGO) involved in the local relief efforts. This includes organisations such as Red Cross/Red Crescent, MSF (Doctors Without Borders), World Vision and Oxfam. Please make a donation today and also encourage your national government to provide much needed financial support to Nepal.

Later, our colleagues in Nepal will be able to advise us about practical ways we can provide direct support, as individuals and through our own member organisations, to assist our colleagues and their health services and communities to recover their capacity as they rebuild in the aftermath of this tragic event. Our colleagues in Nepal will need our support over the months and years ahead.

Prof Michael Kidd, WONCA President

See also message from convenor of WONCA's new Special Interest Group on Conflict and Catastrophe Medicine here.

Reply from Prof Pratap Prasad

Dear Prof Michael Kidd
We are thankful for your kind message and concern shown for me, my family and the Nepalese people.

Our MDs/GPs are providing best services to victims as where they are. We are in dire need of assistance. The physical and mental trauma are alike. People are living in fear and panic everyday due to the continued after shocks. The situation of the people is pathetic as they have taken refuge in open spaces under make shift tents which are not helpful during storm and rain. We have lost our heritage, our history. Even after that there is high chances of epidemics to start soon due to unmanaged waste and polluted water. Help is yet to reach remote places of the country. The death toll is likely to rise once rescue forces reach remote affected areas.

There are a lot of donation sites and campaigns going on but it is better to donate to reputable and reliable places. Here is the account number for donations.
Name of account : TUTH Disaster Relief fund.
Himalayan Bank Limited.
Account number: 00205631170014
Swift number: HIMANPKA

Thank you for the concern and kind words. We hope to rise back soon.
Prof Pratap Prasad
WONCA South Asia region president.