The Nias Quake Coordination Center announced Wednesday that a complete medical monitoring network has been basically set up and medical treatment of the victims of the quake is well under way.

There are already several medical teams from foreign countries and international organizations working round-the-clock in the city of Gunung Sitoli and surrounding areas, officials from the center said at a coordination meeting in Nias.

Besides, small teams and clinics have been sent to the rural areas for on-the-spot treatment and minor cases.

"But all the serious cases are requested by the health department to be transferred first to the local hospitals for treatment," they said, adding "if necessary, the patients should then be sent to the two general hospitals in Gunung Sitoli."

The meeting also announced that a US navy ship hospital with medical facilities and different specialties has arrived in the island and will start operation Wednesday.

"The difficult cases and very badly injured could be shipped to the ship for better treatment," the officials added.

It is also announced at the meeting that infants, young children and orphans are being looked after with particular care. There was fear of a spread of threatening illness among children in some remote areas. "No such case was reported among the kids there," the officials said.

An estimated over 500 people have been killed by the March 28 quake on the Nias Island and many hundreds more injured. Medical treatment of the wounded and prevention of disease have become one of the most urgent tasks for the local governments and the international community.
 
(Xinhua News Agency April 6, 2005)