Pakistan: Relief and Health Services for Earthquake Affected Victims

Clinic Works to Provide for Those with Limited Access to Health Care: Q2 2017

November 04, 2017

Dr. Rubina Mumtaz, Country Director

Summary of Activities

The 5th morbidity report covers a three-month period: April 1st to June 30th, 2017. Although the larger Swat Earthquake Relief Project came to an official close in the first week of March 2017, the community requested that RMF continue our healthcare services. Since the vast majority of area residents are poor and vulnerable, with limited access to health care, a board decision was made to continue the health clinic in Swat. The clinic was relocated and opened in its current location, the village of Nagoha in Union Council Barikot, at the end of March.

The daily clinic operating hours are from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Saturday. Sunday is a day off and Friday is a half-day, in line with religious demand for Friday afternoon prayers, which are considered sacred.

Health Clinic Site

Our approach in choosing the clinic site for this project has been needs-based, as this service is more focused on people in need, irrespective of their experience in the earthquake. Thus, the modus operandi for our clinic has been semi-stationary, moving from site to site according to our assessment of need in different localities within the same district. As a result, the equipment, machinery, and accompanying paraphernalia of the clinical setup have been kept to a minimum, allowing us to move easily and swiftly. In the past year and a half, since December 2015, we have worked in five different remote villages:

  • Laloo Bandee, Union Council Bandai
  • Takhta Banda, Union Council Odigram
  • Odigram, Union Council Odigram
  • Balogram, Union Council Odigram
  • Nagoha, Union Council Barikot
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Results &

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Health Clinic Statistics

Demographic Distribution

Over this period of three months, with an average daily OPD of 25–30 patients, a total of 1,308 men, women, and children were provided with primary health care (PHC) and maternal and child health care (MCH) services.

Adults:

  • 76.6% – 588 women
  • 23.4% – 180 men

Children:

  • 50.7% – 274 boys
  • 49.3% – 266 girls

Health Care Statistics

Treating Common Illnesses

A total of 749 men, women, and children sought primary healthcare services.

The most commonly presented illnesses were:

  • 21.6% – Diarrhea
  • 21.4% – Respiratory Tract Infections
  • 16.3% – Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)
  • 7.5% – Gastrointestinal Infections

MCH Statistics

Care for Mothers and Children

A total of 792 women and children sought MCH services:

  • Family Planning Service – 53 women
  • Postnatal Visits – 38 lactating mothers
  • Antenatal Care – 33 pregnant women
  • Infertility Issues – 17 women

Gynecological and obstetric complaints presented:

  • Leukorrhea – 15.6%
  • Irregular Menstrual Periods – 13.9%
  • Dysmenorrhea – 12.8%
  • Abnormal P/V Discharge – 12.2%
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Background

& Objectives

Background

On October 26, 2015, at 14.09 hrs, an earthquake of magnitude 7.7 hit the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan. The epicenter was centered in Badakhsan Province of Afghanistan, 76 Km north of the Chitral border of Pakistan.

The earthquake luckily spared extreme damage to infrastructure of the affected areas, hence the low rate of mortality and morbidity but remote villages tucked deep in the folds of the mountains composed of mud and wood have succumbed to the quake tremors rendering whole villages shelter less. Also the event triggered off a series of landslides in the mountainous regions that, in the face of the impending winter where it has been raining and snowing in some regions, led to power outages in many places and road blocks, isolating large tracts of areas where people are in need.

Objectives

1. To provide immediate relief shelter
2. To provide immediate relief food
3. To provide immediate health care
4. To assist in rebuilding of destroyed homes

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More

Photos

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Real Medicine Foundation - more photos.
Real Medicine Foundation - more photos.
Real Medicine Foundation - more photos.
Real Medicine Foundation - more photos.
Real Medicine Foundation - more photos.
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Numbers

Served

1,308 men, women, and children were provided with primary health care and maternal and child health care.