An alert alarm has been given for a potential risk increase of child retardation in newly born and unborn babies in the Tsunami devastated areas by a world famed epidemiological researcher of Pakistan, Professor Dr Aurangzeb Hafi.
On the completion of the first epidemiological survey in refugee camps in Sri Lanka, he emphasised upon the need of taking immediate action by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Emergency Fund (Unicef) to tackle this specific issue.
According to message received here from Colombo, Dr Hafi had devised a completely objective-oriented plan, consisting of two phases, ie 'Child Retardation Risk Assessment' (CRRA) project and 'Child Retardation Risk Management' (CRRM) projects.
He had the expertise but to undertake the projects, financial assistance was required. With determination and hope, he approached English Biscuits Manufacturers (Pvt) Limited of Pakistan to solicit funds for the completion of his task. The response was positive and a principle alliance between both of the collaborators was brought into existence.
In subsequent joint meetings and discussions, the CRRA and CRRM were found to be of unprecedented need and were agreed upon to be conducted as a contribution from Pakistan to help the Tsunami victims on humanitarian basis.
The first phase, ie the CRRA was devised to determine the prospects of different types of physical and mental disabilities among the children below the gae of five years, the newly born and the unborn babies as well.
In addition to some other important findings, the CRRA-Project also indicated a severe vulnerability of "Toxoplasmosis" among Tsunami camps children, especially those below five years.
Toxoplasmosis is a mild infection that causes cold like symptoms or usually no symptoms in adults, but can be horribly hazardous for small and unborn babies. As far as the matter of children below five years or the unborn is concerned, it can dangerously cause possible brain defects, eye imperfections and premature childbirth. Furthermore "malnutrition" and "Mal-absorption" have also been highlighted as amid notable accountable factors of the probable likelihood of the articulated dangers.
Dr Hafi's coalition ventured endeavour was the distinctive one that raised voice for the disable population of Tsunami refugees and foremostly came forward with a major emphasis and principal focus upon the likelihood of different types of physical and mental disabilities in the babies of Tsunami affected areas.
In the perspective of post-disaster essential healthcare, nevertheless, certain medical aids were provided to the victims in the affected areas, yet the territory that constitutes the specific subject matter of "disability" and "insanity" remained, not only overlooked and under-noticed, but rather ignored and unnoticed, up to a seriously considerable extent.