Dr. Mona Khanna M.D., M.P.H., Medical Correspondent, KTVT CBS 11 News, Dallas-Fort Worth, shares her thoughts on covering the tsunami.
Impact — I can only speak for myself. I’m humbled. Not only are areas so devastated and was life completely destroyed, but the future task of rebuilding and restoring is monumental. Our national efforts to contain disasters since September 11 have largely focused on man-made disasters — i.e. terrorism events — that the Tsunami tragedy is a stark reminder to myself that natural disasters are more widespread, effect more damage to lives and property, and are not preventable. The Tsunami tragedy restores reminders of the old adage — “But for the Grace of God…”
Survivors — I am spending a week in the town of Batticaloa, on the east coast of Sri Lanka. Perhaps because of my south Asian heritage (I was born in New Delhi), some survivors are proactively approaching me and my photographer. It seems they want to tell their stories. Because we are shadowing the Dallas-based group Gospel for Asia, we are fortunate in that it had already in place 14,000 branches in south Asia working at the grassroots level. By accompanying the founder and CEO of this trusted group, our entry into relief camps was very easy. And because we accompanied GFA, doors are automatically opening without our having to establish trust first.
Survivors are combing through the rubble for lost possessions. One shop owner and his family were sifting through the debris in search of any salvageable merchandise and they came across a stack of packages of fuschia tooth powder. The brand name of the tooth powder was TITANIC. Ironically, another water tragedy.
The major difficulty has been traveling the roads. Many are not paved, others are treacherous. Imagine the Chicago blizzard of 1979 pounding an old alley 10 times in one month, followed each time with clean-up efforts of snow trucks and corrosive salt. That’s what we are driving on. Going from Colombo to Batticaloa, even on the established circuitous route, should have taken us four hours. Instead, it took us 10.
No worries about the health and safety of myself or my photographer. I have traveled to India several times and am well aware of what to expect in a developing country. Because I am a licensed physician, I prescribed both of us malaria medication and just-in-case antibiotics. I also packed a small medicine kit. Travelers to South Asia should contact a travel medicine clinic and make sure their vaccinations are up to date. Vaccinations for diseases endemic to this part of the world are important– I received a typhoid vaccine and a polio booster.
Probably more importantly, travelers should be acutely aware of their environmental conditions in a developing country and take appropriate precautions. Discard all standing water in rooms, drink ONLY boiled or sealed-bottled water, avoid eating off street vendor stands (no matter how enticing), avoid eating fruits or vegetables that can’t be peeled, when drinking bottled drinks purchased from street vendors, ask to handle the straw yourself and do not pour the drinks into glasses with ice. Bring plenty of sunscreen and wear sunglasses. Some of these precautions are good preventive tips no matter where you are!
We are on the last part of our trip. Our February ratings period starts soon, and I have responsibility for medical coverage, so I have to return.
The Sri Lankan government has been very cooperative and facilitated our work. Despite the state of civil war that exists in this country, we have never felt threatened or as if we were in imminent danger.
I also had the opportunity to step away from reporting on the tragedy and step into the shoes of relief workers. I provided medical care to about 250 villagers in a relief camp, and in a remote village. I treated everything from asthma to ear infections to musculoskeletal pain, using medications that had been stockpiled by the Ministry of Health. I performed hernia checks and a rule-out-testicular-cancer exam, referring patients who needed a higher level of care than we could afford them on the street. It was a rewarding experience and allowed me to feel better about contributing a small part to these disadvantaged people.
If you are covering a crisis, or know someone who is, and would like to submit a personal account for posting on this blog, please contact me at ecarr@poynter.org. Please include your name, affiliation, title, and geographic location.
