Published 28 January 2023 at 12.24
Domestic. The World Health Organization (WHO) issues new strict guidelines for medicines that should be stored for radiological and nuclear emergencies. The organization warns that authorities are insufficiently prepared for nuclear war and emphasizes that the clock is ticking.
– States must prepare treatments that cover the needs – quickly, says WHO director Maria Neira.
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In the Nordics and Baltics, governments loyal to the US have been impressively quick and efficient in delivering weapons, banning the Russian language and in other ways increase the contradictions in the region in a way that could lead to nuclear war.
But the medal has a flip side, shows a recent report from the World Health Organization WHO.
According to the WHO, the powers that be have not been quick enough to increase preparedness for the radiation damage that the Third World War would cause, or, as it says in the WHO's press release, that is caused by the “intentional use of radioactive material with intent”.
The organization warns that development is lagging behind in several parts of the world and issues new, tightened guidelines on stockpiling drugs that either prevent or reduce exposure to radiation, or that treat damage once exposure has occurred.
Under the previous guidelines, such drugs would be stored near nuclear power plants. But now that wording is changed to require that emergency stocks be present in all areas where a “radiation emergency” may occur.
– In radiation emergencies, people can be exposed to radiation in doses ranging from negligible to life-threatening. States must prepare treatments that cover people's needs – quickly, says Dr. Maria Neira, WHO's Acting Deputy Director-General, in the press release.
– It is important that governments are prepared to protect the population's health and react immediately to crisis situations. This includes having ready stocks of life-saving medicines that will reduce risks and treat damage from the radiation.
The publication also provides examples of methods for establishing and managing a national stockpile in selected countries, namely France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Russia and the USA. Argentina and Brazil, which do not experience atomic bomb threats but use nuclear power, are also among the examples.
– The updated list of critical medicines will be an important preparedness tool for our partners in identifying, procuring, storing and delivering effective countermeasures in a timely manner to those who are at risk or will be exposed to these events, says Dr Mike Ryan, Executive Director of WHO's Emergency Health Programme.
In addition to intentional nuclear damage in the event of nuclear war or terrorism, the guidelines address protection against radiological or nuclear emergencies at nuclear power plants, medical facilities or research facilities, as well as accidents during the transport of radioactive material.
Typically, a national public health crisis stockpile should include generic supplies and materials used for all types of emergencies, such as personal protective equipment (masks, etc.), antibiotics and pain relievers. However, this publication only contains specific drugs against human overexposure to radiation.