AMDA Afghanistan team completed its medical activities in Spin Boldak district, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan on Dec. 3rd ’08. (Spin Boldak district borders Afghanistan).  With the assistance from Spin Boldak District Hospital, the team conducted mobile clinic for local residents in the villages of Spin Boldak district for six days from Nov. 22nd to Dec. 3rd ’08. Overall the six-day mobile clinic treated 392 patients (147 male and 245 female) with common maladies including cough and cold (35%), urinary tract infection (18%), acute respiratory illness (18%), acute watery diarrhea (15%) and pneumonia (10%).

AMDA Afghanistan: one doctor, one pharmacist, one nurse and one coordinator

AMDA Afghanistan team started the medical activities in Spin Boldak (right next to the border with Pakistan), Kandahar Province, Afghanistan on Nov 22nd ’08. The team conducts activities three days a week and so far conducted mobile clinics on Nov 22nd, Nov 24th, Nov 26th, Nov 29th and Dec 1st.

AMDA Afghanistan team consists of four members including one medical doctor, one nurse, one pharmacist and one coordinator. The team usually carries the medicines in their vehicle from Spin Boldak District Hospital and conducts the mobile clinics. So far they have conducted clinics at Haji Razaq Kilai and Tankai Kilai village in Spin Boldak.

During the first four days, AMDA Afghanistan team treated 254 patients (94 male and 160 female) with common maladies including cough and cold (35%), urinary tract infection (19%), acute respiratory illness (19%), acute watery diarrhea (16%) and pneumonia (10%).

The team continues their activities this week.

On the Nov. 9th, a team of four doctors and two drivers from AMDA Pakistan went to Ziarat district (110km northwest from Quetta) which was recently affected by an earthquake on Oct. 29th '08 and visited many temporary camps around Ziarat. AMDA Pakistan team stayed in Ziarat for three days and worked at the medical clinics in the city of Kawas set up by the local authorities. AMDA doctors managed to consult about 75 patients in total. Apart from the common cold and minor injuries caused by the falling objects, most of the adults were suffering from depression, agitation and insomnia; all symptoms of post disaster situation. The team also donated about 100kg of medicines to the local health authorities according to whom there was a shortage of psychiatrists and  obstetricians. The team decided to leave on the fourth day due to  security reasons combined with less need for ER medical assistance.

In the mean time, AMDA Afghanistan team was on standby at the hospital, located in the suburbs of Kandahar  about 3km away from Pakistan border in order to meet AMDA Pakistan team in Ziarat. However, since AMDA Pakistan team has completed its mission and returned to Karachi for the above mentioned reasons, AMDA Afghanistan team decided not to travel to Pakistan but to conduct the medical relief activities in Afghanistan.  The team conducted a situation survey around the hospital on Nov. 16th and according to the survey, Afghanistan border was less affected by the earthquake and there were no internally displaced persons. However, AMDA Afghanistan team decided to conduct the mobile clinic by visiting the communities and provide the medical services to those who are in need. They procured some medicines on Nov. 18th and will start the medical relief activities soon.

The coordinator dispatched from AMDA HQ on Nov. 13th met with  the chairperson and members of AMDA Pakistan, the team leader of the emergency medical team and the consular general of Japan in Karachi, before returning to Japan on Nov. 17th.

AMDA Team:

As of Nov. 10th, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has reported that the fatalities for the catastrophic earthquake in Baluchistan (60km northwest of Quetta) have reached 270.  The frequent aftershocks have been observed in Quetta and Ziarat for more than 1,000 times.

In response to the terrible plight, on Nov. 12th, AMDA Headquarters has sent one coordinator to Karachi to discuss further activities with the chairperson of AMDA Pakistan.

The deadliest earthquake that hit the province of Baluchistan, the northwest of Quetta, on the Oct. 29th has caused the loss of 166 lives and has wounded 370 people, according to the announcement made by the Pakistani government on Nov. 7th.

The displaced population has topped 68,200 and some 7,600 houses have been destroyed in the most devastated Ziarat (110km northwest of Quetta.) It is reported that a half of the affected population is children in the area.

In Baluchistan, some of the affected areas are not accessible due to landslides. Shelters, food, outfits for cold weather, emergency medical assistance, water and public health facilities are greatly needed.

On Nov. 9th, AMDA Pakistan (Karachi) and AMDA Afghanistan (Kabul) have each deployed a relief team for a possible joint effort in Ziarat.

1) AMDA Pakistan:

AMDA Pakistan’s team consists of four surgeons and two drivers from Karachi’s Baqai Medical University Hospital. On Nov. 9th after obtaining medicines for children, the team visited relief camps (set by local NGO) at the villages of Kawas, Zimtra, Barchon in Ziarat. On Nov. 10th, in consultation with local government, the team will make a decision on further initiatives after assessing the needs around Kawas. AMDA Pakistan’s doctors reported that the demands for mental care, surgical operations and female doctors are high in the area.

2) AMDA Afghanistan:

AMDA Afghanistan’s team consists of two doctors, two nurses, one coordinator from Kabul’s local NGO, Afghanistan Health and Development Service (AHDS). The team has arrived in Kandahar on Nov. 9th, and will be later joined by AMDA Afghanistan’s chairperson on Nov. 11th. The team is expected to meet with the Pakistani team in Ziarat afterwards.

According to the Honduran government, as of Nov. 4th, the death toll has reached 34 with 279,972 people being affected by the recent Tropical Depression 16.

Requested by El Paraiso’s Health Beaureau, AMDA Honduras conducted mobile clinic from Oct. 27th to 29th in Danli district, El Paraiso.  On Oct. 27th and 28th respectively, the mobile clinic was held at the community center in Villa Rica (161 patients), and at the elementary school in the village of La Lima De Esquapa (143 patients). 

On Oct.29th, as there were no public facilities such as schools or churches in the village of Ojo De Matazano, AMDA’s relief team visited each household to provide treatment. 

Overall the three-day mobile clinic had seen 355 patients with common maladies including parasitic diseases (24%), acute respiratory infections (21%), anemia (13%), skin allergy disorder (9%) and headache (7%).  With the correct treatment, it subsided without any further complication.

As an increasing number of evacuees began returning home (some to their relatives’), on 29th Oct. AMDA team and the Health Bureau agreed to end the mobile clinic.  It was also determined that the service had already fulfilled its needs in accessible locations. 

Meanwhile, for the communities that are not accessible due to landslides and floods, the team will closely follow the progress in road restoration and seek possibilities for further activities.

AMDA Team: three doctors (one Honduran, two Cuban), three nurses (two Honduran, one Japanese), four coordinators (three Honduran, one Japanese), two environment sanitation specialist (Honduran)

To tackle the recent flood disaster in Honduras AMDA has deployed emergency relief mission in El Paraiso. According to the Government of Honduras, the death toll has reached 33 and some 257,000 people have been affected.

Upon the request from Permanent Commission for Contingencies (COPECO) El Paraiso Headquarters, AMDA started its mobile clinic on Oct. 27th at the flooded Villa Rica, the most affected area in El Paraiso.

Villa Rica is located 50km east (two-hour ride distance) of *Danli City At the village of Villa Rica, 14 household out of 70 have been damaged and landslides occur frequently.  *Danli is 90km east of Tegucigalpa, the capital.

In the afternoon of Oct. 27th AMDA’s medical team treated 161 patients at the community hall in Villa Rica. Main cases included skin diseases, ARTI and parasitic disease with a possible outbreak of Leishmaniasis (skin disease transmitted by flies).

In collaboration with El Paraiso District Health Bureau, AMDA mission has added one nurse who can examine Leishmaniasis and one environment sanitation specialist who can investigate the causes of skin diseases.

AMDA team continues its work on Oct. 28th and onward.

AMDA Team: two doctors (Honduran, Cuban), two nurses (Honduran, Japanese), two coordinators (Honduran, Japanese), one environment sanitation specialist (Honduran)

On the Oct. 16th Tropical Depression 16 landed in the northern Honduras bringing heavy rain to the region. Due to the heavy rain many local rivers burst their banks causing heavy flooding and landslides. The Government of Honduras declared a state of emergency on the 19th of October and reported as of Oct. 24th the death toll was at 30. The worst affected areas are north-west, south and central-east region including the capital, Tegucigalpa. In particular the north and the south of Honduras are not accessible or very difficult to access by any means of transportation.

AMDA has been present in Honduras for a long time and currently has two different medical projects, namely reproductive health and HIV prevention, jointly conducted by Japanese and local staff.

After confirming the safety of the two Japanese and 12 local staffs at the El Paraiso Office, AMDA headquarters has decided to conduct emergency relief activities for the flood-affected people.

On Oct. 24th, the project leader (Japanese national) and two local staffs from the AMDA project visited Danli city (one of the AMDA project site) in El Paraiso. The above team of three attended a meeting organized by the District Commission for emergency relief and discussed the current situation, need and AMDA’s proposed location for emergency relief activity with the local officials. Following the discussion the team visited the Jutiapa area in Danli accompanied by local health officials. The team witnessed damaged houses and houses inundated with flood in the Danli city. They were also told 3 people were lost and about 2,300 people were affected by this calamity.

Health facilities in Danli city is functioning, however due to the flood people from many areas are unable to access many of these facilities. Among the common diseases were skin infection, leptospira- a bacterial infection from livestock, and upper respiratory track infections. There is a concern for an outbreak of malaria and dengue fever in the region.

After the initial research, AMDA has decided to conduct mobile clinic in most needed areas of El Paraiso district. AMDA project leader and local staffs including doctors procure medicine and medical equipments in Tegucigalpa for the clinic and coordinate the activity with the local health bureau. The team has planned to conduct mobile clinic from Oct. 27th.

AMDA Nepal has completed its relief mission in Kailali, Nepal, (since Sep. 26th) in early October with a successful outcome. The team has diagnosed a total of 1,034 patients through its mobile clinic service conducted in five local VDCs (Village Development Committees). While other humanitarian agencies took care of food and shelters, AMDA focused on emergency medical/health service in the field.

Patient statistics:

Team members: two doctors, one medical clerk, one pharmacist, one coordinator, one assistant coordinator

On the Sep. 19th there were severe flood and landslide in the mid-western Nepal. According to OCHA’s report 180,000 people had been affected by this disaster. On Sep. 26th AMDA Nepal sent a relief team (1 coordinator, 2 doctors, 1 medical clerk, 1 pharmacist, 1 assistant coordinator) to the severely hit Kailali area.

AMDA team conducted medical relief activities in the remote areas located three hours from the central Kailali. The mission was completed on Oct. 1st '08. As of Oct. 3rd, the Nepalese government announced that the affected population had topped 70,000.

The 29th annual conference of Asian Medical Student Association (AMSA) was held in Tokyo from Jul. 25th till Aug. 1st '08. The conference with the theme of “Non-communicable Diseases and Health Promotion” was supported by the Japanese Medical Association and Japanese Association of Medical Sciences. The conference was held at the National Olympic Memorial Youth Center (NYC), Tokyo, Japan and attended by 460 medical students from 22 different countries.

AMSA and AMDA sharing the same root at the beginning have long history of relationship that goes back more than two decades. To strengthen this relationship between AMDA and AMSA, a committee namely “Standing Committee on AMSA” was formed in 2008 with Dr. Jongmin Lee of AMDA Korea as its chairperson.

As AMDA works to solidify and expand its network for AMDA’s Multi-national Medical Mission (AMMM), AMSA can play an important role as partners in our activities and also as a training center for future AMDA members. At the same time AMSA can also gain a lot from the guidance and training given by AMDA’s senior doctors and experienced humanitarian relief workers in the field. Thus AMDA and AMSA can help each other to fulfill their mission while maintaining their respective independence.

As Dr. Jongmin Lee was unable to attend the Conference due to his work engagement, to represent AMDA at this memorable Conference the following people were present.

Dr. Elrey L. Navarro, Vice-President of AMDA-Philippines Member of AMDA Standing Committee on AMSA

Dr. Taka Iwanaga, Past AMSA Member and a great and long time contributor to AMDA-AMSA relationship

Mr. Veeravagu Nithian, President Office, AMDA Headquarters, Okayama.

During the opening ceremony on the first day, Dr. Iwanaga and Mr. Veeravagu were honored as representatives of AMDA headquarters on the stage along with the AMSA management committee. At the welcoming reception, on the second day, at Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office observation deck, AMDA team was again introduced to the participants from different countries along with some medical professionals from the local universities and hospitals. A ceremonial toast was instigated by Ms. Waka Shibata, chairperson, organizing committee of AMSA.

The morning of day four was allotted for “International Session” which the delegates were introduced to various international activities of AMSA as well as other international organizations. On behalf of Dr. Lee, a presentation was made by Dr.Navarro. During his presentation Dr. Navarro talked about the history of AMDA International, philosophy, its activities, AMDA-AMSA relationship and future plans for the communities we serve. In addition to his presentation Mr. Nithian presented the recent activities and participation of AMDA in current emergency relief operations in China and Myanmar. In his presentation Nithian highlighted the actual hardship/reality one might face in the field as a relief worker with the help of recent photos.

AMDA International also set up an information-booth outside the venue along with other delegates. A number of students took time to ask some questions regarding AMDA particularly membership’s procedures, future AMDA activities etc. Combined with the two presentations the booth exhibit helped to give the participants a brief history and beginnings of AMSA and how it developed to become today’s AMDA. Participants also got a clear view of AMDA’s international activities such as AMMM, long term sustainable projects, ASMP and AMDA scholarship program. AMDA’s concept of Sogo-Fujo and the motto of “AMDA will always be on the front line as long as there is a life to be saved” were introduced and welcomed by the young participants.

Finally Dr. Navarro attended the Closing ceremony on behalf of AMDA International at the NYC. A cultural-modern dance presentation by medical students from Japan and Taiwan, the next host country of 30th Asian Medical Students Conference 2009, were showcased in their national costumes as the highlight of the ceremony.

The recent spell of floods in Bihar, India has raised the death toll to 235. According to the local news papers, even though the water level of Koshi, Ganga, Gandak, Mahananda and Bagmati rivers were receding below the danger mark, government officials are monitoring the situation closely as this region is generally plagued by heavy flood in the month of October. Heavy Flood has damaged Madhepura, Bhagalpur, Supaul, Araria and west Champaran districts.

Under the leadership of AMDA India in collaboration with Manipal University, India, the AMDA medical team was engaged in medical relief activities around severely affected Araria and Supaul districts. In total the AMDA Multi-national Medical Mission (AMMM) team consisted of the following 10 members.

AMDA India: five doctors, one nurse and one pharmacist  

AMDA Nepal: two doctors

AMDA Headquarters, Japan: one coordinator 

The team began its relief assistance jointly with local doctors on Sep. 9th at a local Primary Health Care (PHC) center at Narpatganj in Araria and conducted mobile clinics at relief camps along the river Koshi. According to AMDA’s coordinator, people are still wading across the waterlogged Koshi River and most people live without any household items and with poor sanitary conditions along the river.

According to the team doctors most of the symptoms are resulting from prolonged living in relief camps with poor/no facilities. And even with those who are well, many of them are starving. During their mission the team has consulted about 2800 patients in total at the Primary health care center and at the mobile clinics. At times the team has treated as high as 365 patients a day at the relief camps. Finally after a successful completion of their mission, the team left Bihar on Sep. 21st '08.

To battle the recent flood in Bihar, India, AMDA’s medical team has been engaged in mobile clinic service around severely affected Araria and Supaul districts.  The team began its relief assistance on September 9th at a local primary health care center in Araria.

According to AMDA’s coordinator, Akiko Fujimoto, people are still wading across the waterlogged Koshi River.

“I came from about five kilometers away.  It was already flooded all over the place and I guess the water level had risen up to three to ten feet then.  I was rescued by the military” one of the evacuees spoke to AMDA at Charnai camp in Bhargama, Araria.  “We had no time to bring our belongings.  After the nearby dam broke out, the flood washed away everything in a matter of seconds.  I’ve lost my house, livestock, everything...”

The size of evacuation camps varies in each location however diseases such as respiratory tract infection, diarrhea and gastritis are commonly seen.  And even with those who are well, many of them are starving. 

As lack of doctors is hitting poorer areas, on Sep. 17th the team has decided to conduct mobile clinic in Bagheli camp, Supaul where assistance has been scarcely reached.

In coping with the flood situation in Bihar, a medical team from AMDA India has arrived in Patna, the State capital of Bihar, in the evening of Sep. 8th. The team is expected to carry out medical relief activities in the township of Araria, bordering Nepal, where the damage from the recent flood was said to be quite big.

Members dispatched: 2 medical doctors, 3 medical interns and students, 1 nurse, 1 pharmacist from AMDA India

Akiko Fujimoto, a coordinator from AMDA Headquarters, as well as doctors from AMDA Nepal and AMDA Bangladesh are expected to join the team later.

From 21st Aug. to Sept. 16th AMDA Nepal set up a temporary clinic at the evacuation camp in Sunsari. There were 1,813 patients at the clinic in total out of 3,500 evacuees at the camp. About 44% of the patients were below 15 years old with major symptoms such as acute pharyngitis (30%), fever (7%), diarrhea and dysentery (7%), bronchitis (6%), parasitic infection (6%) and skin irritation (5%).

Dispatched personnel: 36 staff from AMDA Nepal/AMDA Hospital (6 doctors, 1 nurse, 14 medical clerks, 15 coordinators and assistants)

As of Sept 1st, a relief team from AMDA Nepal has prolonged its mobile clinic services in Sunsari. The team has decided to extend its assistance considering the possible outbreak of communicable diseases in the area.

The outcome has been successful thus far with the team treating approximately 35-60 patients on a daily basis. While other relief agencies are involved in food distribution AMDA Nepal is taking care of local health and sanitation.

In some of the evacuation camps, sanitary conditions are said to be poor.

Common maladies: cold, diarrhea, bronchial infections, body aches, ear infection etc

Team members: 1 Facilitator, 1 Team Coordinator, 1 Sr. Health Assistant, 1 Staff Nurse, 1 Health Assistant, 1 Community Medicine Assistant

(Abridged report from AMDA Nepal)

In response to the disastrous flood that struck eastern part of Nepal, a relief team from AMDA Nepal has been conducting mobile clinic services at the evacuation site in the heavily affected Sunsari area.

At Sunsari's evacuation camp about 3,500 people are still obliged to stay until the circumstance gets calmed. On Aug 29th alone, the number of patients has counted up to 66 persons with common maladies such as cold, bronchial infections and body aches. Among 41% of patients were under 15 years old.

Due to the request from Sunsari's Public Health Office, AMDA Nepal is to likely extend its current relief initiative until the situation gets recovered.

(Abridged report from AMDA Nepal)

Flood caused by torrential monsoon rainfall on August 18th wreaked havoc in a number of districts in southern plains, heavily affected the Sunsari district in the East of Nepal. According to local report more than 70,000 people have been affected and are feared dead and/or disappeared in separate incidents.  Floods and landslides triggered by incessant rainfall across the country have claimed a large number of lives in Terai region and the population is facing an acute shortage of food and essential goods.

A large section of the flooded area has been waterlogged.  In some parts, water level has risen to more than 3 feet forcing people to flee their homes and seek shelter in schools/community buildings.  Electricity, water and telephone supplies in the area have also been cut off due to inundation of the supply channels.

In Sunsari district (about 150 km from AMDA Hospital in Damak, Jhapa) the overflow from the swollen Koshi River has inundated Sripur, Haripur, Laukahi and Western Kushaha and other surrounding villages.

As of August 21st relief team from AMDA Nepal (two doctors, four nurses, one coordinator, one assistant) has been dispatched to conduct mobile clinic service at the evacuation site in Sunsari.  Common maladies include diarrhea, typhoid fever and external injuries.  AMDA Nepal further plans to extend the relief activities with the support from AMDA Headquarters coordinating and collaborating with AMDA networks and authorities in Nepal.

(Abridged report from AMDA Nepal)