Sindh Govt treated 70,000 patients in flood relief camps

KARACHI: Azra Fazal Pechuho, Minister for Health and Population Welfare, Sindh, said over 70,000 patients are being treated at the flood relief health camps and that since July, over 800,000 had been treated in these free health camps that were set up for flood relief. 

She expressed these views during a press conference held at Sindh Assembly. The Press Conference was held on the current health challenges in light of the floods that have devastated much of the country and the flood relief work being done in Sindh. The press conference was attended by Qasim Siraj Soomro, Parliamentary Secretary of Health, and media personnel.  

She added that despite much of the flooded area is inaccessible, relief work is undertaken by boats. 

Azra Pechuho said that acute respiratory disease, diarrhoeal diseases, suspected malaria, skin infections, and snake and dog bites were the most common concerns at the flood relief health camps across the province. 

She added that because the floods have caused a huge loss to the crops, there is a danger of food insecurity and that food, medicine, and clean water are the most immediate aid that needs to be provided. 
The doctors mobilised for the covid pandemic are also being utilised for flood relief. Every government sector is being asked to partake in relief work, as this will be a long-term rehabilitation endeavour in which everyone must do what they can. 

She stated that the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) had donated substantial quantities of medications for various ailments. However, after the floods recede, the full nature of the illnesses will be revealed.

Azra Pechuho noted that there were more than enough pharmaceuticals for the IDPs; however, the problem was that many government relief efforts and non-governmental organisations lacked access.

The Punjab government had also dispatched seven teams of medical personnel, comprising male and female physicians, paramedics, and nurses.

Azra Pechuho stated that a catastrophe of this magnitude is not the time for politics and that everyone must unite for the sake of mankind.

She stated that we need more female physicians to assist with flood relief since hundreds of thousands of women and children do not feel comfortable being handled by men and require medical treatment.

She also stated that clean water is needed as contaminated water, and its consumption and use for sanitary purposes are also causing skin diseases and waterborne diseases. 

All ambulances have been mobilised to conduct fieldwork for flood relief, and WHO has also provided additional ambulances, The Minister for Health added.