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The second team from Aga Khan University (AKU) comprising of nurses
left on October 14 to aid in the earthquake relief efforts. The
nursing team will be based in Armed Forces Medical Institute, Muzaffarabad.
The team has taken with them a consignment of critically needed
surgical equipment and medicines, including pain killers and anaesthetics.
AKU's earthquake relief efforts began the day of the calamity,
with a donation of Rs. 4 million by AKU employees. Subsequently,
a specialized trauma team consisting of experts from general surgery,
orthopaedics, neurology, anaesthesia and medicine, left for the
effected areas, carrying over 1.5 tons of surgical equipment and
medicines. AKU is also contributing Rs. 5 million towards the provision
of medical and surgical supplies, patients' airlifts to Karachi,
as well as setting up and equipping the medical and nursing teams.
At AKU's Karachi campus, a relief centre has been set up to collect
funds as well as relief goods including food supply, tents and blankets
for the victims.
These efforts are a part of the overall Aga Khan Development Network
(AKDN) relief assistance through its various affiliates and agencies,
which includes AKDN’s donation of Rs. 30 million along with
Habib Bank’s donation of Rs. 30 million to the President’s
Fund for Earthquake Relief. AKDN has also provided much needed helicopters
to Pakistan Army. FOCUS Humanitarian Assistance, the international
emergency relief agency has mobilized medical and relief goods to
the northern regions. Aga Khan Health Service, Pakistan (AKHS, P)
has also sent teams of medical professionals to be based in Muzaffarabad.
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