Some 90,000 Flood Victims Are Suffering From Stress: Thailand

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Flood victims distressed

THE NATION

Some 90,000 flood victims are suffering from stress, with the most serious cases now undergoing therapy, the Public Health Ministry said yesterday.

Medication is being provided for those regarded as suicidal, said Deputy Public Health Minister Torpong Chaiyasarn. He did not say how many victims were considered serious cases but estimated the overall number of distressed had reached 90,000 of the 2-million flood-affected across the country.

Emotionally disturbed people residing in shelters are being given counselling and career training while attending recreational activities. Celebrities and students are helping them during psychological courses.

The ministry is preparing to adopt measures to deal with post-flooding diseases and possible outbreaks, Torpong said.

Viewers monitoring flood-related events on television are advised to take frequent breaks to ease anxiety, permanent secretary Phaijt Warachit suggested yesterday.

The Ayutthaya General Hospital has reopened and will today offer out-patient department services for general and non-serious cases. Special cases and those requiring surgery will be treated at Nava Nakorn 2 Hospital, which has a staff of eight surgeons and 20 nurses who can treat 40 cases, Phaijit said.

Lat Lum Kaew and Sam Khok hospitals in Pathum Thani remain closed but are still providing service at facilities across from Thammasat University's Rangsit campus, while Pathum Thani hospital is still operational.

Phaijit said 622,909 general patients are now receiving treatment, a daily average of 14,000. Of those suffering from stress, 727 were found to have contemplated suicide and are under special care.

A stressed-out man fired six shots from his handgun into the air near a medical team caring for flood evacuees at a temple in Ayutthaya province, causing panic at the site. The unidentified man fled in a boat.

In Ayutthaya, where stagnant flood water has been widely contaminated by the deaths of a million farm chickens, a germ-producing substance, in the form of a so-called DASTA Ball, was dropped from two helicopters and scattered at farms in Bang Pa-in district.

The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry said the 10,000 disinfecting balls would help increase the growth of germs to eat up chicken carcasses quickly, shortening the contamination period and reducing water pollution. There are now 8,000 rai of chicken farms totally submerged.

Permanent Secretary Suphoj Towichukchaikul said if the contamination does not decline in the next few days, a similar substance, which he said had proved effective in the 2004 tsunami, would be employed.

The Navy has built and given 20 pontoon rafts as floating shelters for flood evacuees near Rojana Industrial Estate in Ayutthaya. One raft can hold 15 people, or a 1,500kg payload, on a platform 3 metres long, six metres wide and 80cm in height, supported by 200-litre barrel tanks.

The first 400 bamboo rafts produced by forest rangers on behalf of the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation have been given to the National Flood Relief Centre. The bamboo was retrieved from national parks in three provinces and the department is planning to build another 10,000 for free distribution to flood victims.

Each raft's payload is 200kg, which can be increased by attaching plastic bottles underneath it, said director-general Damrong Phidej. He said those wanting to evacuate or relocate resident animals at zoos, or large-sized pets, should contact 1362, the department's hotline number, for help.

Two thousand survival kits given by His Majesty the King have been distributed among flood victims at two locations in Pathum Thani's Khlong Luang district.

In Bangkok, the Metropolitan Police Bureau has set up several rapid deployment 10-officer teams to help with emergency requests from households, said commandant Jakthip Chaijinda.

An extra 100 traffic policeman have been assigned to help with traffic direction in flooded areas in eastern Bangkok.

Large-sized trucks transporting sand and other materials or construction equipment for building flood barriers are permitted travel in Bangkok in restricted hours. Traffic policemen who ticket such vehicles, despite explanation by drivers, will be punished, Jakthip said.

Respondents to an Abac Poll survey rated the government's ongoing handling of the flood situation at 3.6 - out of a possible 10.

An unknown number surveyed said the vast majority - 87.2 per cent- did not trust announcements made by the government centre and were confused by inconsistent details and repeated announcements and denials.

Respondents said the information service provided through hotline 1111 Dial 5 was not fully useful and no different from vague explanations by the centre's teams of spokespersons. The efficiency of the centre's alert was rated at 3.08 out of a possible 10.9

-- The Nation 2011-10-19

[Buchholz]

Deputy Public Health Minister Torpong Chaiyasarn did not say how many victims were considered serious cases but estimated the overall number of distressed had reached 90,000 of the 2-million flood-affected across the country.

From the same Public Health Ministry that distributed condoms to flood victims, the above nonsense is indicative of what happens when a banker is made into a Deputy Public Health Minister.

[MaxYakov]

Deputy Public Health Minister Torpong Chaiyasarn did not say how many victims were considered serious cases but estimated the overall number of distressed had reached 90,000 of the 2-million flood-affected across the country.

< snipped a portrait of the Deputy Minister of Public Health >

From the same Public Health Ministry that distributed condoms to flood victims, the above nonsense is indicative of what happens when a banker is made into a Deputy Public Health Minister.

I'd say 'assumed the role' or 'was given the position' is more accurately descriptive than 'made into', but we get what you meant. Anyway, he's under the Minster of Public Health, Buranasir, so perhaps he can do better damage control w/r his subordinate in the future.

From a TV Forum Post :

Public Health minister

Witthaya Buranasiri, 51, Pheu Thai deputy party leader, started with the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai party. Elected in 2001 and 2008, he was appointed chief government whip during the Samak Sundaravej and Somchai Wongsawas governments.

He was later appointed chief opposition whip during the Abhisit Vejjajiva government.

Witthaya graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Rajabhat University and earned a Master of Political Science degree from Ramkhamhaeng University. He served in several political positions such as secretary-assistant of the finance and commerce ministers, and secretary to the industry minister.

Deputy Public Health ministers

Torpong Chaiyasarn, former bank officer and son of veteran politician Prachuap Chaiyasarn, started his political career as deputy government spokesman in Thaksin Shinawatra's administration.

Elected MP for Udon Thani in 2001, 2005 and 2007, he served as chairman of Parliament's Foreign Relations Committee.

Torpong graduated with a bachelor's degree from a San Diego institution and earned a Master of Business Administration degree from American University in Washington, DC, and a Master of Political Science from Thammasat University.

[geriatrickid]

A stressed-out man fired six shots from his handgun into the air near a medical team caring for flood evacuees at a temple in Ayutthaya province, causing panic at the site. The unidentified man fled in a boat.

An illustration of what happens when the public panics or is overcome with frustration. Does anyone want to contemplate what will happen if Bangkok is flooded?

I think the number of stressed out people is in the millions, not 90,000. I do know that Thailand is on the verge of a massive public health crisis the residents of Bangkok are displaced. One would expect tens of thousands to fall ill with hundreds if not thousands of deaths. There are not enough medications or vaccines to go around. I strongly urge those that have not kept their hepatitis and tetanus vaccinations up to date, to go and get vaccinated now.

The public health briefing sheets are copied word for word from WHO and all provincial medical officers have been warned to expect the following;

- Water-borne diseases, such as typhoid fever, cholera, leptospirosis and hepatitis

- (Within 30 days of flooding) Vector-borne diseases, such as malaria, dengue and encephalitis.

I don't want to contemplate the disposal of the dead as the crematoriums won't be able to handle the numbers. My gut feeling is that the preparation for the probable epidemics has not

been done. If there is a typhoid or cholera epidemic, Thailand will be subject to quarantine which will destroy the tourism and agricultural export sectors.