KARACHI: Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) has been actively providing free medical assistance for treating diseases across the country’s flood-hit areas to the devastated victims.
In the last week of August 2022, Pakistan declared a state of emergency because of the flooding. Therefore, SIUT decided to send its medical teams to set up relief camps in various affected locations across the country. The teams of doctors and staff members organized these Free Medical Camps to provide medical assistance; details are as follows.
In Sindh at Kot Diji- Khairpur (Govt. Taluka Hospital, Govt. High School Kot Digi, Qaim Khan Gopang Village, and Village Malhar Sheikh), Sukkur (Munawar Khan Hospital, Zero Point, Old Bus Stand, Village Khalifo Soonhar, Kundi farm), Larkana (Village Areja, City Naseerabad, Village Kot Lal Bux Mahesar, Village Vikia Sangi, Village Bero Chandio, Bhoro kalhoro, New Tharo - Miro Khan, Mad Farid Aba), Dadu (Mehar City), Sehwan Sharif (Lal Bagh, Jhanghara, Bajara, Bado Jabal, Degree College, Chottambi, Villages of Nain Shareef, Therini Shareef-Manchar Lake)
in Balochistan at Uthal (Lasbela University of Agriculture, Water & Marine Sciences, DHQ Hospital, Karsheikh Village, Morand Village, Saand Village, Bela Village), Khuzdar (Ornach, Zava Tehsil Zehri), Killa Saifullah (Kaza Mirzai, DHQ Hospital), Pishin (Union Council Barshore), Loralai (DHQ Hospital).
In Punjab at Rajanpur (Basti Safdar Babda, Moza Hajipur, Basti Rubait Fazilpur, Multiple Khaima Basti Kot Mithan), Taunsa (Basti Jalowali)
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at Swat (Barthana District Matta)
Besides the medical camps at tent cities, SIUT mobile medical services are also provided in far furlongs areas. As a result, thousands of malaria, dengue, skin disease, chest infection, and diarrheal cases were observed. The suspected patients were screened for malaria and dengue and provided medicine to them. The team also offered awareness services, including maternal and child healthcare services and nutrition.
The SIUT is regarded as one of the premier Institutes that provide Free Cost treatment without discrimination. All stakeholders should make a combined effort as waterborne diseases outbreak. Therefore, effective health relief should be provided to the displaced people to prevent them from any health emergency.
Responding to the national calamities in the 2005 earthquake when people were affected with bone crush and required hemodialysis. SIUT teams, thus, decided to stay for a month and also took the initiative for the arrangements of dialysis service, which later became a permanent Centre for dialysis-dependent patients in Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu & Kashmir. And later on, in the 2010 flood, SIUT sent its medical teams to provide medical services and medicines in affected areas all over Pakistan.