Denmark Delivers Successful Healthcare Facilities For Flood Affected People In Pakistan.
Online, December 16, 2010 (Newswire.com) - The Danish Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) concludes its first emergency response project of setting up successful field hospitals to provide immediate healthcare for flood affected people in Pakistan. The successful project closing was marked by the visit of the Danish Ambassador to Pakistan, Mr. Uffe Wolffhechel, who visited one of the field hospitals situated in Radhan, Sindh.
In response to Pakistan's urgent need of healthcare provision and easy access for the local affected people, the Danish Emergency Management Agency initially established three light field hospitals in the Sindh province. One hospital was placed in Rhadan, one sub-hospital in Badah, whereas the third hospital was changed to two OPD's (Out Patient Department), located at Mehar and Khanpur. The hospitals have in a period of 3 months treated more than 150,000 local people and many continue to come in search for quality medical care.
"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", said Mr. Uffe Wolffhechel. Mr. Wolffhechel visited the many patients at the hospital, who showed great appreciation for the provision of quality healthcare.
The ambassador said that "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".
DEMA was among the first international emergency agencies which responded to the appeal from the Government of Pakistan and the European Union to support the flood affected people and prevent and cure infections that tend to occur in flood situations.
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 hospitalize patients with more severe medical problems.
Speaking to the hospital staff members, they said that the challenge lie in maintaining the healthcare delivery systems once these emergency field hospitals wind up, as the existing local healthcare system was being run with limited human resources and medicine for the local patients. Efforts are now being undertaken to collaborate with the local authorities so that some of the hospital items may be handed over to NGOs or the local healthcare authorities, so that they make take charge of the area and continue with the medical treatments of the deserving locals.
Mr. Jan Gert Olsen, the DEMA Mission Coordinator shared that the field hospitals had been a great success, as it had provided many people - who otherwise were deprived of access to healthcare facilities - the opportunity to not only get immediate treatment, but also receive information on flood related diseases so that they could better monitor and prevent further disease outbreaks.
When concluding his visit, the Danish Ambassador Mr. Wolffhechel said that he was very pleased to see the results, as reports now show that the number of patients coming for health care issues related to the floods is decreasing day by day. " Patients who come here now are more related to general healthcare issues, which in our opinion is a strong indicator for improved healthcare among the victims of floods", he said.
Denmark is among the international donors that have given the most per capita in aid following the worst flood disaster in Pakistan's history. With a population of only 5.4 million people, the total donation of USD 22 million amounts to a contribution of 4 dollars from each Dane to relief efforts for Pakistan's flood victims.
The additional Danish funds have been given to UN organisations and Danish humanitarian organizations, which are providing flood relief in close cooperation with Pakistani partner organisations. 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.
This brings the Danish state-sponsored donations to humanitarian aid and development assistance for Pakistan to a total of 44.5 million dollars