Doctors of the World Canada

Published purpose

May 2015 - On April 25, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit Nepal, with the epicentre 81 km northwest of Kathmandu. The earthquake has affected over 8 million people, displaced 2.8 million, and has left more than 3.5 million Nepalese in need of food assistance. To date, the Government of Nepal has confirmed over 8,600 deaths and 16,800 injured. On May 12, a 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal, northeast of Kathmandu, and near its border with China. This aftershock caused additional damage and loss of life, including throughout many areas already impacted by the April 25 earthquake. With DFATD's support, MDM Canada is helping to meet the emergency health and shelter needs of up to 20,000 earthquake-affected people. Project activities include: (1) provision of medical supplies and medications to public health facilities; (2) provision of direct primary health care to remote earthquake-affected communities through mobile health clinics; (3) provision of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services to the affected population through deployment of mobile medical teams; (4) implementation of an epidemic disease surveillance system; (5) provision of health awareness training to affected communities; (6) repair water and sanitation systems in targeted health clinics; and (7) distribution of emergency shelter kits to affected households.