Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (Pima) in collaboration with Al-Khidmat Foundation of Pakistan has so far delivered medicines and medical help over rupees 50 million to the quake victims whereas manifold humanitarian aid has been provided so far.
Pima former central president Dr Tanveer ul Hassan Zuberi revealed this in a press conference here on Tuesday. Pima Lahore President Dr Nisar Ahmed, Incharge Pima Relief Lahore Dr Muhammad Yaqeen, Secretary Pima Relief Lahore Dr Abubakar Shahid and other office bearers were also present on the occasion.
Zuberi maintained around 3,000 doctors and an equal number of medical volunteers rushed to the quake hit areas in Hazara and Azad Kashmir during the first few days of disaster. These doctors provided immediate rescue and life saving treatment for 150,000 patients.
The largest volunteer body of Pakistani doctors - Pima was the first responder and medical relief work was initiated in first six hours from its Abbottabad unit. Pima doctors conducted hundreds of urgent major operations in Gilani Orthopaedic Hospital during first 72 hours whereas Pima doctors established the first field hospital in Muzaffarabad on the following day, he added.
At present, 23 sub-units are working under four major field hospitals. More than 1000 doctors, lady doctors, foreign medical mission and public volunteers have so far served in these facilities.
Foreign medical missions from USA, UK, Germany, Egypt, Sudan, Uganda, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Singapore, Turkey and Indonesia have provided medical aid in these camps, he maintained.
He further said 44,000 patients had been given first aid treatment whereas around 2000 outpatients were examined on daily basis. As many as 15 mobile teams were sent to remote areas every day, where those doctors and volunteers examined around 200 patients daily.
Over 4,000 major surgeries had been performed so far, while 12,000 minor surgical procedures had been performed. The bed strength of those hospitals was 350 with an average occupancy of 98-100 per cent.
Around 400 doctors, lady doctors, paramedics and volunteers were offering their services on shift basis, whereas five psychiatrists were extending their services to check depression.
There were two large hospitals running under Pima in Muzaffarabad. The newly constructed Kashmir Surgical Hospital adjacent to CMH had sustained significant damage whereas the building of Pima Al Hajry Hospital at Srinagar Road received minor cracks.
The repair work would be started this week with the help of Pakistani doctors in USA and hopefully that hospital would serve as a major health service provider in Muzaffarabad region, he added.