The team from the College of Family Medicine at the JSMU conducted a five-hour camp treating nearly 700 patients, 70% of whom included women and children. Medicines worth Rs25000 were distributed among the patients as well.
Prof Marie Andrades, Head of the Institute of Family Medicine at JSMU, described sanitation and hygiene as a worsening problem in the area. She said that the majority of the patients treated at the camp were suffering from infections of the skin, gastrointestinal,l, and respiratory tract.
Besides, malnutrition with anemia in both women and children was highly prevalent. Non-communicable diseases like hypertension and diabetes mellitus were also seen.
The results of a baseline survey conducted by the team in another village in the area, identified poverty, lack of education including health education, almost universal use of gutka, lack of water, sanitation, and hygiene as the significant issues affecting the population's health.
Vice-Chancellor, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Prof S M Tariq Rafi, said that such visits are a regular part of the university’s outreach program aiming to help improve the healthcare sector of the province.
The visiting team included Prof Marie Andrades, Dr Tabinda Ashfaq, Dr Fauzia Akhtar, Dr Sadaf Badiuzzaman, Dr Anny Dhawani, Dr Gulrukh Kazalbash, and Asad.