Nearly 50 evacuees from Asian disaster zone hospitalised in Finland
Victims also offered psychological help and pastoral care
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Nearly 50 Finnish citizens returning from parts of Asia affected by the tidal waves that followed the recent earthquake in Indonesia have been hospitalised in Finland.
Most of the patients have been sent home after treatment, but by Wednesday evening, 28 people have spent nights in hospitals either in the Helsinki area or in their own home communities.
A few of the evacuees have undergone surgery. On Wednesday doctors at Helsinki's Töölö Hospital operated on an injured hand and an injured foot, and on the badly infected wounds of two other patients.
Head physician Ilkka Tulikoura said that some of those with the worst injuries are still being cared for in hospitals near the holiday resorts. "We do not know yet if a special plane will be needed to transport them", he said.
All Finns arriving on evacuation flights from the disaster area are being offered the possibility of a medical examination upon arrival at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport.
Hospitals in the Helsinki area and around Finland say that they have enough space and personnel to treat the arrivals from the affected areas.
Precautions are being taken to prevent the spread of infections by antibiotic-resistant MRSA bacteria. All patients who had been treated in an Asian hospital for more than a day are being placed in special care in Finland at least until an infection has been ruled out.
Test results for MRSA can take several days. So far no infections have been found among the patients returning to Finland.
Meanwhile in the Thai resort of Phuket, Helsinki's Lutheran Archbishop Eero Huovinen has visited victims of the disaster in hospital. He has spoken with those who have lost loved ones and others with bad injuries.
"Many speak of having been protected by angels", he says.
"The situation is shocking. There are many who are shocked and happy at the same time. Many have lost all of their relatives and friends."
Huovinen says that employees of tour operators and officials of the Finnish Foreign Ministry have acted in an exemplary fashion in Phuket. Finnish doctors who have arrived on the spot have also worked long days.
"There are appalling stories of how there are so many patients lying on hospital floors that there is not enough room to walk."
On Wednesday Huovinen accompanied people returning to Finland to Phuket Airport. The flight left after midnight local time.
"Even the words of prayer are in quite short supply", Bishop Huovinen said.
Crisis groups have been set up in different parts of Finland to deal with the psychological aftermath of the disaster.
Workers at aid organisations say that many people have been calling their hot lines simply to get a chance to talk to someone.
The Finnish Red Cross has had psychologists on evacuation flights to help passengers cope with the situation, and others are at the airport to help those who arrive.
In addition to crisis groups and centres that have been set up in different parts of Finland, and in many municipalities, psychologists at local public health clinics can help.
"What is most important is to listen with empathy", says social psychologist Liisa Eränen of the Finnish Red Cross. She says that the victims usually have a need to talk to someone. "However, if someone does not want to talk, we must not be too intrusive or inquisitive."
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 30.12.2004 - TODAY |
 Nearly 50 evacuees from Asian disaster zone hospitalised in Finland |
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