Haiti faces severe medical challenge after earthquake

BEIJING, Jan.20 (Xinhuanet) -- The devastating earthquake last week has put Haiti in extremely serious disasters. However, more tough things may not have come yet such as medical treatment of the victims and prevention of diseases.

In Haiti, a poor country where AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria are rampant, people are most vulnerable to malnutrition and face hygiene challenge.

Since the disaster, many international medical teams have poured in. They have set up mobile hospitals and given treatment to the victims.

But, there are so many casualties that they are already overwhelmed. Even worse, infection in a hot weather like Haiti will take hold and threaten the weak, elderly and young in particular.

"Many people have suffered multiple fractures and internal injuries," Said Jon Andrus of the Pan American Health Organization. "By any stretch of the imagination it is going to be incredibly difficult."

Also, diarrhea is likely to spread as there is a serious shortage of drinkable water. People, especially children, will die unnecessarily from diarrhea disease that could be easily treated with water and rehydration salts under more normal conditions, according to medical experts.

Haitian officials said the death toll from the quake was likely to be between 100,000 and 200,000, and no one has even begun to get a count of injuries.