The medical unit of Canadian Forces Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) continued to treat victims severely injured in the October 8 earthquake and has so far provided medical care to 3,800 patients, more than 1,700 have been treated by mobile medical teams.
In addition to mobile medical teams, DART maintains a medical clinic at a camp at Gahri Dopatta.
The medical clinic provides out-patient care to about 140 people a day, have 20 in-patient beds for over-night care, medical laboratory services and X-ray.
A DART medical liaison officer co-ordinates the transfer of patients to more specialised medical care in Muzaffarabad, Islamabad and elsewhere.
DART has also been working with Pakistan Red Crescent society to re-establish rural health center at Gahri Dopatta.
Once the local capability returns, the Canadian DART medical platoon plans to increase the number of mobile medical teams.
DART is contributing to the Canadian government's humanitarian aid effort to bring relief to the people of Pakistan affected by the earthquake.
DART evacuated pregnant women from Palhot Bala and other affected areas of Gahri Dopatta.
These women were identified by one of the Canadian mobile medical teams as needing urgent care.
Major Sean Blundell, Task Force Pakistan Surgeon and Medical Platoon Commander said, "We are able to save more lives because we go into the remote areas on foot, by road or by helicopter to treat people, rather than them trying to make an impossible journey to us."
He said the strength of the structure of DART was that it could adjust its way of operating to meet the local needs.
Each Canadian mobile medical team comprises five medical personnel with at least two women, and includes a doctor, physician assistant or nursing officers, medical technicians, a local translator and two additional soldiers.
Each day, two mobile teams are operating. There have been more than 20 of these missions so far. The teams are able to treat major fractures and wounds, provide inoculations, as well as address more minor medical concerns such as rashes and intestinal complaints.
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