ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
- International Medical Corps has established a Waterborne Disease Treatement Center in Nowshera
- 17 mobile medical teams are treating areas throughout Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province
- 11,000 mini hygiene kits have been distributed by International Medical Corps
Los Angeles, CA – August 25, 2010 – International Medical Corps has established a waterborne disease treatment center in the District Headquarters Hospital in Nowshehra, one of the districts hardest hit by the Pakistan floods. Emergency medical teams are providing treatment in 12-hour shifts, expanding to 24/7 service within the coming days.
“We have never seen such devastation in the past in Pakistan caused by floods, not in my lifetime,” said Jehangir Ali Khan, International Medical Corps Country Director for Pakistan. “As the water is receding, there are waterborne diseases. There is typhoid, there are cases of malaria coming up. More than 8 million people are in the need of clean drinking water.”
The latest government figures indicate more than 1,500 people have died and as many as 1.5 million have been forced to flee their homes, with 15-20 million affected. Authorities expect the number of dead is much higher as communication networks are disrupted and roads and bridges have been washed away by floodwaters, making access impossible. Acute respiratory infection (ARI), diarrhea and skin disease remain the top three treated diseases.
In addition to services at District Headquarters Hospital, International Medical Corps continues to support flood-affected Pakistanis through 17 mobile medical teams serving areas throughout Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province (KPK) in the northwest. To date, the organization has conducted over 12,500 health consultations.
“Our priority is getting people desperately needed medical services,” said Sonia Walia, International Medical Corps Regional Coordinator for Asia. “With the lack of clean water we are extremely concerned about outbreaks of disease, including cholera. “
In addition to medical services, International Medical Corps has also deployed psychologists and hygiene promoters to address mental health and hygiene needs in districts including Nowshehra, Peshawar, Charsadda and Swat. Teams are providing health education on hygiene & sanitation, including the prevention of diarrhea, scabies, and ARI. In addition, International Medical Corps distributed mini hygiene kits to 11,000 people. As the organization makes mental health care a priority in emergency relief efforts, International Medical Corps is also providing psychosocial support including teaching local coping mechanisms to help those whose lives have been devastated by the floods.