NEW DELHI, Jan 7 (AFP) - There have been no epidemics in Indian areas devastated by the tsunamis but there is an urgent need for counselling of survivors, the health ministry said Friday.
P.K Hota, secretary of the health ministry, said there was no outbreak of infectious diseases, but bereaved people -- especially children who had been orphaned by the tsunamis -- had been left psychologically devastated.
"There's an urgent need to focus our attention on traumatised children and expectant mothers who are depressed," he told a news conference.
"There has been no epidemics or large cluster of diseases but we remain alert," Hota said, adding there had been some cases of measles and a few cases of diarrhoea "but nothing out of control".
But medical staff shortages were posing problems with women doctors, nurses and counsellors most in demand, he said.
"A lot of medical infrastructure like hospitals and pharmacies have been washed away but we do have enough medical supplies."
Health workers were carrying out mass inoculations against measles and counselling children with help of the United Nations Children's Fund UNICEF and the World Health Organisation, he said.
"This effort will continue. We'll have volunteers at the village level keeping an eye on affected people. Some people who are okay now may slip into depression later as the shock wears off."
UNICEF has said it is seeking to counsel over 100,000 children traumatised by the relatives' death in the tsunami-pounded southern state of Tamil Nadu.
The waves smashed into Tamil Nadu with terrible force on December 26, killing 7,941 people, with 6,023 dead in the worst-hit district of Nagapattinam alone.
The overall toll in southern India and the far-flung Andaman islands totals at least 9,995 people dead and 5,689 missing, most presumed dead.
The government has not replied yet to offers from foreigners and foreign non-governmental organisations seeking to adopt children orphaned in the disaster.
"Once we're satisfied there are no relatives left to take in the children we'll look at the option of looking for homes for the children," said Navin Chawla, secretary of the Information Ministry.
"The orphaned children, mostly from the fishing community in Tamil Nadu, are truamatised and psychiatrists are working with them. These traumatised children cannot cope with the stress of learning a new language," he said.
"The government has asked placement agencies to look for good homes in Tamil Nadu so the children's environment and language doesn't change."
UNICEF India representative Cecilio Adorna stressed the importance of helping children cope with their trauma by getting them back in school as fast as possible to give them something positive to focus on.
Some "have seen their parents, siblings and friends die. Many have been separated from family. The secure environment of family, school and play is changed forever," she said.
"Many children are responding to their traumatic experiences by showing signs of deep insecurity, nightmares, loss of appetite and withdrawal.
Survivors' physical wounds should heal quickly given proper care," she said. "However, psychological damage could be permanent if we don't quickly give children the help they need to be happy again."
01/07/2005 15:47 GMT - AFP