Thousands battle depression as flooding leaves them homeless
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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
