Pakistan: Relief and Health Services for Earthquake Affected Victims
Phase I Mission Accomplished: December 2015 – April 2016
May 20, 2016
Dr. Rubina Mumtaz
Summary of Activities
On October 26, 2015, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan. The earthquake, aftershocks, and winter rains destroyed an estimated 59,000 homes and left nearly 600,000 people homeless or living in makeshift shelters. In the most heavily affected Pakistani region, 300 people died and over 2,000 were injured. Those left homeless by the earthquake faced a cold winter with very little food or shelter. To help at-risk survivors, RMF Pakistan went to remote areas and villages to seek out the poorest of the poor and identify those who had been overlooked by government agencies and other NGOs. In the following months, we accomplished Phase I of our relief plan, providing:
- Immediate relief shelter
- Immediate relief food
- Immediate health care
With Phase I successfully completed and a longer term clinic established, we will soon begin Phase II: rebuilding destroyed homes.
Full Report
Results &
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Objective I
Immediate Relief Shelter
100 at-risk families received:
- winterized tents
- plastic floor mats
- blankets
Objective II
Immediate Relief Food
- 252 families received 1-3 RMF food packages, distributed December 2015-February 2016. One food package is estimated enough to feed a family of 7-8 for 1 month.
- 8 hightst-risk families will receive RMF food packages until September 2016.
Objective III
Immediate Health Care
- Swat Health Clinic: Opened December 21, 2015 in a permanent building, in Mohalla Laloo Bandee
- Doctors: husband and wife team, both doctors from the region, lead the clinic
- Patients served: 3,425 men, women, and children have been served December 2015-April 2016
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
More
Photos
Click to enlarge
Numbers
Served
3,425 men, women, and children received primary health care and maternal and child health care
Success
Stories
Primary Health Care
A total of 2,231 men, women, and children sought primary health care services. The most common illnesses diagnosed:
- 46.7% Respiratory tract infection: Especially seen in children, due to the harsh winter and living conditions.
- 15.7% Diarrhea: Again most complaints in children, lack of hygiene and clean drinking water contributed.
- 13.1% UTI: Most cases in women, lack of hygiene and difficulty of living conditions.
- 6.4% General body weakness: No other symptoms, commonly related to depression, multivitamins prescribed for placebo effect and added nutrients.
- 4.8% Anemia: Most cases in women, consistent with lifestyle demands of large families, lifestyles, and conditions.
The team at Swat Health Clinic was able to effectively treat these and other illnesses due to well-stocked medical supplies and the expertise of the husband and wife team, Doctors Mr. and Mrs. Nasar.
Maternal and Child Health Care
A total of 1,212 women and children sought maternal and child health care services. Women were treated for:
- 18.3% Dysmenorrhea
- 15.8% Abnormal leucorrhea
- 11.4% Irregular periods
- 11.4% PV bleeding
- 2.5% Primary or secondary infertility
Women also sought:
- 9.57% Antenatal care
- 8.4% Family planning
- 8% Postnatal visits
The team at Swat Health Clinic was able to effectively treat these and other illnesses due to well-stocked medical supplies and the expertise of the husband and wife team, Doctors Mr. and Mrs. Nasar. Female patients especially benefited from having a female doctor at the clinic.
More Reports on: Relief and Health Services for Earthquake Affected Victims Archive
Country Page: Pakistan
Initiative Page: Relief and Health Services for Earthquake Affected Victims
