Medical care to quake victims termed unsatisfactory

Lack of proper training in trauma management, compromising quality of urgently required medical intervention and care to the victims of trauma was observed in handling injured exposed to ravages of recent earth quake in the country.
This was observed by the medical experts speaking at the inaugural session of a three-day hands on workshop on trauma management organised by Centre for Skills Development, Dow University of Health Sciences in co-ordination with Primary Trauma Care (Oxford, UK), here on Friday.
The speakers comprising senior orthopaedists, neurologists and surgeons mentioned that no less than 7000 cases of para-pelagic (waist paralysis) were registered among the quake victims who if carried properly and provided with simple but necessary support, without any delay, could be safeguarded against the life long disability. Instances of unwarranted amputation were also referred to, as infections due to improper dressings could not be avoided.
Reservations were also expressed with regard to accessibility to trained professionals and availability of required facilities at emergency and accident units being run in most of the local hospitals including tertiary care centres.
"Mishandling and negligence cause loss of lives besides turning many more disabled," they commented adding that the situation ought to be changed with provision for training of all medical students, teachers, doctors, paramedics and nurses and technicians in trauma management.
DUHS Vice Chancellor, Professor Masood Hameed Khan in his keynote address on the occasion said the university was focussing on skill development of its students as well as faculty through series of training programs on trauma management, communications skills and so-forth.
Referring to series of courses and programs organised by Skills Development Centre DUHS, he said special focus would be on under graduate students who would be provided hands on training facilities.
Dr M Khalid Siddiqui, Director Surgical and Allied Centre for Skills Development, DUHS in his welcome address said 30 doctors had been registered for the program for providing two-day training to primary trauma care providers and one-day instructors' course.
The master trainers to be trained during the exercise would emerge as a major support to train medical community in general, he hoped mentioning that training program would be certified by the Primary Trauma Care Foundation - Oxford, UK.
Senior professionals including Dr Saeed Minhas, Dr Saleem Ilyas, Dr Rashid Jooma, Dr Bushra Shirazi, Dr Jameel, Dr Zahid and Dr Shams Nadeem Alam would conduct different sessions of the training.