Contingent of Pakistan Navy participating relief efforts in Banda Aceh, has set up a hospital in tsunami hit Indonesian town, Samalanga. Hundreds residents of calamity hit Indonesian town thronged the hospital the first-ever in the area after Tsunami had washed away the only facility in the area. Mission Commander, Commodore M. Ehsan Saeed told mediamen that on the first day Friday, 900 patients were given treatment on account of different diseases.
From 1800 to 1900 people were treated on Saturday, the second day, most of them suffering from scabies, other skin diseases and diarrhoea, he said.
There was one hospital in this areas and no doctor was there in hospital after it was severely damaged by Tsunami since December 26, 2004.
"When the people came to know, there was any such facility in the area they rushed for treatment and were extended all possible medical aid and treatment by the Navy contingent," Commodore Ehsan said.
The mission commander said that a laboratory has also been set up with 85 specialist doctors and paramedical staff working there.
He said, nine patients were operated on Friday with 14 on Saturday at this hospital as it also has the facility of anaesthesia.
The contingent also cleaned the debris from the site of hospital that was damaged by Tsunami.
Indonesian people in the area appreciated the efforts of Pakistan Armed Forces for extending them all possible help and thanked the government and the people of Pakistan for this generous and on time assistance.
The Navy contingent also cleared of the debris, a canal in the area that is only source of travelling after the roads network other links were badly damaged.
Special Force of Pakistan Navy by Saturday had cleared 60 percent of the canal and hopefully this link was to be soon restored.
Navy helicopters were also co-ordinating in the relief activities by identifying places to where the relief activity could have been expanded. Meanwhile, during last six days more than 3,000 patients visited the OPD of the Pakistan Army hospital in Lamno.
Out of them, 169 underwent minor surgery and 23 major surgery while 482 laboratory tests of the patients were conducted.
Pakistan army officials working at the hospital said, there were more cases of fractures while two cancer patients were also detected and tumours were removed in some cases. These officials ruled out the possibility of epidemic breakout and said, the army team had also set up a filtration plant of 2000 gallon/per day capacity to provide clean drinking water to Pakistan army contingent as well as the local people.
Earlier, there were scores of diarrhoea cases but within due course of time, this epidemic had been controlled to large extent, said the army doctors working at the hospital. People and the government of Indonesia had been appreciative of the Pakistan armed forces for extending valuable services at the hour of need and thanked them.