Karachi, Aug 17; An 8-member team of the Medical Aid Foundation undertook a 3-day visit to conduct a Relief-cum-Medical Camp in Kandhkot, Kashmoor, Pat Feeder, Goth 27 mile (Shahiwah) Goth Khuda khair Shah in Distt. Jacobabad.
Over 2800 patients were given medical aid and relief packages containing rice, gur, lentils and tea 1000 blankets were also distributed to four hundred families.
The Medical Aid Foundation team headed by its President Dr. Saira S. Khan, explained that 25000 residents of the disaster area of the above mentioned Goths had been rendered homeless their kutcha habitats farm animals and produce have been washed away, stagnant water collected in large areas had become breeding ground for mosquitoes and flies. They have no shelter; no clothing and food as such epidemic will soon be rife among them. Typhoid and cholera is imminent. Early rehabilitation food, clothing and medicines with special emphasis for anti-snake venom serum, rabies injection, anti-malaria and anti-diarrhocal are the most immediate requirements. So far no prophylactic vaccination has been given to the people. The food and rain water has crated serious hardship for the rural population; several villages and hundreds of people are cut off from the large town. “Our survey during the camp has revealed the large number of men, women, and children suffered from malnutrition whooping cough, chest infection, eye and stomach water all around this population is sitting out all night under the open skies, awaiting help, the small children. Cuddling into their arms in a nightmarish atmosphere.” Dr Saira khan said.
The Ford ambulance donate by Rotary Club of Watford North, England curried the essential medical supplies and patients were examined in the Mobile Ambulance making the work much easier and hundreds of patients were examined and medicines were given to them, us they had lines up on both sides of the road for shelter. ASWA also sent a cheque of Rs. 8000 towards the purchase of medicines for the camp.
What is most urgently required now is to provide the evacuees shelter and dry ration along with water purification tablets, dates, rusks, loaves and biscuits. Medicine of course are needed most in very large quantity, said Dr. Saira khan.
The camp was conducted at the request of Ms Rahila Tiwanu Advisor to the Chief Minister, Sindh to the local NGOs. |
