| Aga
Khan University (AKU)'s fifth team of doctors, along with volunteers
from Mother & Child Care Trust, rushed to Garhi Habibullah and
established camp on October 26 2005 for mass vaccinations for women
and children for infectious diseases including typhoid, hepatitis
A and measles. This is the second AKU team which is working in Garhi
Habibullah as this hilly area has received limited relief resources
and medical assistance due to restricted road access. AKU team has
a predominance of paediatricians, who are working in close coordination
with Aga Khan Health Service, Pakistan (AKHS,P), and plans to be operational
in this area, especially in the surrounding villages, for the next
one year.
AKU team is involved in rapid assessment and relief, and primary
prevention of childhood illnesses through vaccinations. The team includes orthopaedic
and gynaecological experts for essential support and rehabilitation. The team
will also train community volunteers for maternal and child care skills and
aims to establish strong community links for future reconstruction.
"The disaster has unfortunately affected children disproportionately,
with over half the casualties and wounded representing children
and adolescents," said Dr Zulfiqar Bhutta, Professor and Chair,
Department of Paediatrics, AKU. "Along with obstetric, medicine
and orthopaedic experts, our team has a majority of paediatricians
so that, along with the rest of the population, we can cater to
the special needs of children," he added. Speaking on AKU's
intention to establish a field ambulatory clinic at Garhi Habibullah,
Dr Bhutta stated, "We are in a race against time to reach at-risk
families and children for vaccination and health support before
winter sets in and also aim to train local volunteers and health
workers in preventive and basic management strategies for childhood
illnesses. We will be working in close coordination with AKHS,P
and with the support from the Mother & Child Care Trust, we
intend to be the channel of relief, primary care support, reconstruction
and development."
This is the
fifth team of medical professionals from AKU to go to the earthquake
affected areas. AKU's four other teams consisting of doctors and
nurses, are presently working in Islamabad, Muzaffarabad and in
other remote disaster areas. In addition to these teams, AKU employees,
students and medical residents have raised over Rs. 4.8 million
and have donated medicines, warm clothes and blankets. The University
has also donated Rs. 5 million towards medicines and in organising
the relief activities. These efforts are a part of the overall Aga
Khan Development Network's (AKDN) relief assistance programme through
its various affiliates and agencies which includes financial assistance
as well as humanitarian help.
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