‘International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War’ (IPPNW), a
consortium of doctors which won Nobel Peace Prize in 1985, has been
quite vocal against N-armament. Its co-founder, Dr Daniel Etim Bassey,
is in Patna to address the National Conference of Indian Doctors For
Peace and Development, beginning Saturday. Banjot Kaur Bhatia spoke to
the Nigerian expert. Excerpts:
What could be the scale of the health disaster if India faces an N-war?
We have our fears about India and Pakistan, both nuclear powers. An estimated 20 million deaths would take place. No nation in this world, forget countries like India and Pakistan, is medically equipped to tackle the aftermath of such a war. Therefore, it is high time doctors in these two nations raised voice against N-armament.
When you say ‘equipped’, what are your concerns?
Simply put, all the doctors and hospitals would be destroyed. Who will then take care of the injured? At least 44 million people would receive grievous injuries. Thousands others would suffer from other injuries.
Apart from burn injuries, what other injuries?
Burns would constitute the most serious challenge. Hundreds of thousands of second and third degree burns cases… These people would need urgent and intensive medicare which would not be available. Even in a country like the US, there are only 2,000 beds for burn patients! Besides burn patients, people with eyesights destroyed by the flash, ruptured eardrums, collapsed lungs and broken limbs would be crying for help.
What about the effect of radiation?
Radioactive contamination would spread throughout Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and China besides, of course, India and Pakistan. Radiations are bound to cause hosts of cancers in the generation directly affected by the blast and thereafter. And mind you, there is no antidote to radiations.
Experts say N-explosion can lead to famines…
It is scientifically proven that the environment post N-explosion no longer remains favourable for farming. Agri yields dip significantly. For a country like India which is home to the highest number of malnourished children in the world, this should sound as an alarming bell. Hunger makes our immune system weak which leads to epidemic of infectious diseases.
But the governments are so much for N-energy…
Priorities of our governments are misplaced. Forget about big and small countries, even a newly created country like South Sudan hasn’t procured any drugs but has been investing millions in buying weapons for last two years. But then there are countries like Cuba, Finland and Switzerland where health spend is almost equal to defence expenditure.
We have our fears about India and Pakistan, both nuclear powers. An estimated 20 million deaths would take place. No nation in this world, forget countries like India and Pakistan, is medically equipped to tackle the aftermath of such a war. Therefore, it is high time doctors in these two nations raised voice against N-armament.
When you say ‘equipped’, what are your concerns?
Simply put, all the doctors and hospitals would be destroyed. Who will then take care of the injured? At least 44 million people would receive grievous injuries. Thousands others would suffer from other injuries.
Apart from burn injuries, what other injuries?
Burns would constitute the most serious challenge. Hundreds of thousands of second and third degree burns cases… These people would need urgent and intensive medicare which would not be available. Even in a country like the US, there are only 2,000 beds for burn patients! Besides burn patients, people with eyesights destroyed by the flash, ruptured eardrums, collapsed lungs and broken limbs would be crying for help.
What about the effect of radiation?
Radioactive contamination would spread throughout Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and China besides, of course, India and Pakistan. Radiations are bound to cause hosts of cancers in the generation directly affected by the blast and thereafter. And mind you, there is no antidote to radiations.
Experts say N-explosion can lead to famines…
It is scientifically proven that the environment post N-explosion no longer remains favourable for farming. Agri yields dip significantly. For a country like India which is home to the highest number of malnourished children in the world, this should sound as an alarming bell. Hunger makes our immune system weak which leads to epidemic of infectious diseases.
But the governments are so much for N-energy…
Priorities of our governments are misplaced. Forget about big and small countries, even a newly created country like South Sudan hasn’t procured any drugs but has been investing millions in buying weapons for last two years. But then there are countries like Cuba, Finland and Switzerland where health spend is almost equal to defence expenditure.
Yes absolutely right, both the countries should be disarmed.
IPPNW calls for free healthcare accessibility to one and all, and the best way to do that is to create hospitals and develop manpower. Some of the best doctors in different parts of world are from India. Your country must contemplate stopping this brain drain.
