Nepal’s earthquake victims overwhelmed hospitals after a 7.8-magnitude quake shook the country in April 2015. More than 8,000 people died, over 20,000 suffered injuries, and thousands more were left homeless by the temblor and succeeding aftershocks.
The limited number of available physicians and stretched facilities meant a long wait for treatment, and many of the survivors will require long-term care for the trauma they endured. Meanwhile, a monthslong blockade of the India-Nepal border — lifted in February 2016 — has had a huge impact on the economy, as well as reduced import of medical supplies and slowed infrastructure rebuilding efforts.
One year on, Devex took a look at the state of affairs on the ground in Nepal through the eyes of VSO physician volunteer Harry Lynch, whose work involves doing rounds in the temporary camps near the district hospital in Dhading.