ID :
82766
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 18:38
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http://m.oananews.org//node/82766
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Thailand sending medical teams, equipment to quake-hit Indonesia
BANGKOK, Oct 2 (TNA) - Thailand's Public Health Ministry will send teams of medical personnel, first aid kits, antibiotics and saline solutions totally worth Bt3 million (US$85,000) to help survivors from the massive earthquake in Indonesia, according to Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai.
The medical teams will be flown to Indonesia via a Royal Thai Air Force C-130 transport aircraft Saturday at 9 am, he said.
The 7.6-magnitude quake on Indonesia's Sumatra island on Wednesday toppled buildings and led to fires in Padang, home to nearly a million people, leaving the coastal city largely without power and communications. The ill-equipped emergency teams worked around the clock to pull bodies from ruins that so far have claimed the lives of at least 1,100 people.
Indonesia appealed for foreign aid Friday as the stench of decomposing bodies hung over wrecked buildings where overwhelmed rescuers were searching for survivors.
Mr Witthaya said that Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had coordinated with his ministry after receiving the request from Indonesian government and he had assigned the health ministry's Office of the Permanent Secretary to urgently arrange the assistance to Indonesia as the country is a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
The Thai government initially approved plan to sent medical equipment worth Bt3 million (US$85,000) while medical personnel from the Emergency Medical Institute of Thailand and other from the Thai Red Cross Society's Relief Bureau would be sent to Indonesia as advance team to facilitate arrangements with the Indonesian officials.
Dr Paijit Varachit, Acting Permanent Secretary for Public Health, said the ministry would prepare first aid kits, antibiotics and saline solution which were needed most for the emergency.
The medical supplies will be sent with the advance team which will leave Bangkok on Saturday, he said, adding that Dr Prachakvich Lepnak, deputy director of the Emergency Medical Institute of Thailand will head the team. (TNA)
The medical teams will be flown to Indonesia via a Royal Thai Air Force C-130 transport aircraft Saturday at 9 am, he said.
The 7.6-magnitude quake on Indonesia's Sumatra island on Wednesday toppled buildings and led to fires in Padang, home to nearly a million people, leaving the coastal city largely without power and communications. The ill-equipped emergency teams worked around the clock to pull bodies from ruins that so far have claimed the lives of at least 1,100 people.
Indonesia appealed for foreign aid Friday as the stench of decomposing bodies hung over wrecked buildings where overwhelmed rescuers were searching for survivors.
Mr Witthaya said that Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had coordinated with his ministry after receiving the request from Indonesian government and he had assigned the health ministry's Office of the Permanent Secretary to urgently arrange the assistance to Indonesia as the country is a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
The Thai government initially approved plan to sent medical equipment worth Bt3 million (US$85,000) while medical personnel from the Emergency Medical Institute of Thailand and other from the Thai Red Cross Society's Relief Bureau would be sent to Indonesia as advance team to facilitate arrangements with the Indonesian officials.
Dr Paijit Varachit, Acting Permanent Secretary for Public Health, said the ministry would prepare first aid kits, antibiotics and saline solution which were needed most for the emergency.
The medical supplies will be sent with the advance team which will leave Bangkok on Saturday, he said, adding that Dr Prachakvich Lepnak, deputy director of the Emergency Medical Institute of Thailand will head the team. (TNA)
