Danish Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) has successfully established various field hospitals in flood-hit areas for providing immediate healthcare facilities to the flood affectees. In response to Pakistan's urgent need of healthcare provision and easy access for the local affected people, the Danish Emergency Management Agency established three light field hospitals in the Sindh province as first emergency response projects.
One hospital was established in Rhadan, one sub-hospital in Badah, whereas the third hospital was changed into two OPDs (Out Patient Department), located at Mehar and Khanpur. The hospitals in a period of just two months treated more than 80,000 locals and many continue to pour in for the want of medical care, said a news release issued here on Thursday.
Each field hospital is equipped with state of the art medical equipment and international as well as national staff members. The hospital carries the capacity to treat more than 500 patients per day and also hospitalise patients with more severe medical problems. According to the hospital staff members, more than 130,000 patients are expected to receive the treatment before the scheduled closure of hospitals by December 2010.
"The Danish government is strongly committed to supporting the rehabilitation of the flood affected areas and in particular in rebuilding the lives of the local people", Danish Ambassador to Pakistan Uffe Wolffhechel said this during his visit to one of the field hospitals located in Rhadan.
Wolffhechel visited the many patients at the hospital, who showed great appreciation for the provision of quality healthcare. The ambassador said: "In addition to the immediate relief and rehabilitation efforts, health became one of the primary concerns in these areas, as most of the emerging and risk associated diseases are waterborne. The increase in waterborne diseases, in particular among women and children right after the floods, demanded immediate measures to cater the urgent health care issues among the local populace as well as educate on preventive ways".
Jan Gert Olsen, the DEMA Mission Co-ordinator shared that the field hospitals had been a great success, as it had provided medical care to many people who otherwise were deprived of access to health facilities. Denmark is among the international donors that have given the most per capita in aid following the worst flood disaster in Pakistan's history.
Besides the Danish humanitarian emergency aid, the Danish Parliament has also approved a grant of 22.5 million dollars for development assistance to Pakistan. The funds are earmarked for reconstruction and early recovery work in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata, as well as support for democratic institutions.