Pakistan

Union Council Talhatta, Pakistan (July-September 2010)

Real Medicine’s clinic in Union Council Talhatta, District Mansehra, Pakistan, which we run in collaboration with the Hashoo Foundation, has continued to provide healthcare for 6-7 Union Councils, including Talhatta, Shawal Moizullah, Garlat, Gari Habibullah and Balakot, and serving almost 150,000 people. The clinic is located near a main road where public transport is available, making the clinic easy to access. Many patients walk a full day to visit the clinic, confident that they will receive good healthcare service.

The clinic is the only one in this area having two LHVs (Lady Health Visitors) among its staff, which has encouraged many women and girls to visit the clinic premises with ease and confidence. The two LHVs are the only source of gynecological care, family planning, maternal and child healthcare in this area. The clinic site is also adjacent to HF’s livelihood program supplying widows with livestock. The close proximity has made administration of both projects easier on ground. It also enhances HF’s reputation in the area and had an impact on the clinic attendance.

The clinic’s objectives are to provide primary healthcare that includes disease prevention, health promotion and health education, as well as cover remote villages and provide healthcare access to girls and women. The project also aims to involve the government and local communities in the healthcare system so that they can take ownership once the project is completed.

Between July 1st and September 30th, 2010, the clinic provided medical services such as: maternal, newborn and child health, child survival interventions, nutrition education, control of communicable and non-communicable diseases, mental health, provision of essential drugs and home visits by community health workers.

In this quarter, 5,826 patients were diagnosed and treated at the RMF-HF Health Unit in Talhatta. 39% of the patients were males (2,244 males), 61% were females (3,582 females) and 25% of the overall patients were children (63% of the children were under 12 years old). 217 women came for antenatal visits, 181 came because of gynecological problems and 156 women visited to receive advice on family planning.

Patient Data:
The majority of the diseases diagnosed and treated as a result of the weather and living conditions are as follows: Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI): 27%, Diarrhea (bloody and non bloody): 10.3%, Dyspepsia: 9.3%, Scabies: 6.4%, General body aches and weakness: 4.5%, Urinary Tract Infections: 5.5%, Hypertension and Anxiety: 6.2%. The cases of suspected Meningitis: 11, Acute Abdomen: 9, Burns: 4, Acute Appendicitis: 4, and Acute Jaundice Syndrome: 7. These cases were subsequently referred to secondary and tertiary care hospitals for further treatment. Furthermore, 10-15 patients are receiving home consultations each month.

The specific medical problems presented to the clinic are as follows: