Hundreds of quake victims get new lease of life

14 Oct, 2005

In the backdrop of the fact that crush injury caused to victims, during natural calamities as the recent intensive earth quake, leads to fatalities, surgeons and nephrologists pertaining to Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) with their base camp at Ayub Medical College - Abottabad have managed many of the injured to survive severe conditions.
Dr Fatema Jawad of SIUT talking to APP here on Thursday, giving details of the scenario where people could be witnessed lying under heavy monsoon, mentioned that it is very common for the victims to get damaged their muscles which release blood and proteins that turn on entering the kidneys, blocking them ultimately causing renal failure.
"It is this acute phase when emergency dialysis is necessary to save life", she said mentioning that the highly specialised unit of SIUT is working round the clock to save lives under the supervision of Professor Adib ul Hasan Rizvi, SIUT Director.
The lives saved include people of all age group with different parts of the affected areas of Azad Kashmir and Northern area, Dr Fatema said mentioning that SIUT team in liaison with Ayub Medical College, Abbotabad and the CEO and Medical Superintendent, Professor Sajjad and Dr Zaffir has constantly attending large turn over of patients exposed to crush injury and requiring dialysis.
She in this context referred to the case of a 17-year old student of Geology at the Muzaffarabad University. He at the time of mishap was in the hostel which collapsed.
He remained under the rubble for more than six hours and after being rescued was transported by the army to Abbotabad, she said mentioning that the young student suffered major injuries to his legs and abdomen and his kidneys had stopped working - but as was successfully dialysed is now sate.
Similar is the case of Manazir, a 26-year old baker, who was working on the ground floor of a three storey building which collapsed. He remained trapped under a beam and rubble for 12 hours.
"The beam had to be cut to release him from the jaws of death -Manazir too had attained crush injuries and fracture of legs but as was brought over to Abbotabad and provided emergency treatment with dialysis and drugs and is now out of danger," the senior expert elaborated.
Many more casualties are coming in, but these two major ones were treated within 24 hours of the arrival of SIUT team, which will continue to work till it is necessary, Dr Jawad said adding that the mission of SIUT is to provide relief to the sick and this can be fulfilled any where in the country besides its four walls in Karachi, where all who enter get the best without any remuneration.
Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) Karachi has sent a highly specialised team of 25 members, led by Professor Adib ul Hasan Rizvi for providing medical aid to the victims of the disastrous earthquake which has taken thousands of lives and rendered many more homeless.
SIUT team comprises Surgeons, Nephrologists, Anesthetists, Intensivists, Technologists and para medical staff had left for affected area soon after receiving the reports about the massive calamity.
Ventilators, monitors, six dialysis machines, medicines and other medical supplies, all were transported free of cost by the national carrier, PIA.

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