NUWAKOT – The Singapore Red Cross and Qatar Red Crescent treated their first patient today (May 4) after spending nearly two days setting up their medical relief camp in Nuwakot.

Ms Lalmaya, 65, was treated for epistaxis or bleeding from the nose. It took her and her son one hour to walk from Kimtang Village Development Committee to reach the camp site.

Dr Tan Chi Chiu, a gastroenterologist with the SRC said her condition could have been triggered by the climate here - the cold, dry night and the hot, dusty day time - which could result in inflammation in the nose and cause some bleeding.

Besides treating non-disaster related medical issues, such as long-term chronic illnesses, the camp is also able to handle post-disaster medical conditions ranging from non-lethal closed fractures to pneumonia.

Mr Funchu Tamang, who the 101-year-old found in the rubble of his house seven days after the earthquake struck his home in Kimtang Village Development Committee, also visited the medical relief camp run by the Qatar Red Crescent and Singapore Red Cross. He gave his name as Mr Phintshu Tamang.

He was diagnosed with traumatic preumothorax at the nearby Bhutan camp. Dr Raymond Lim, a general surgery resident at National University Hospital, said Mr Phintshu developed pneumonia on his right chest, which could be treated with antibiotics. He also suffered from abrasion on his left arm and left lower limb.

The team of seven is the first medical team from the SRC and will stay in Nuwakot till May 10. Another two teams will arrive subsequently, where teams will be rotated every 10 days.

Nuwakot, located north of the capital Kathmandu, is one of the worst-hit areas from last week's 7.8-magnitude earthquake.

The medical camp is expected to be around for three months. While the SRC is expected to stay till the end of this month, the team is prepared to stay longer if needed.