Hospitals battle on to save tanker fire victims

As death toll hits 207, medics fear more patients will be lost

LAHORE: As the death toll from the Ahmedpur Sharqia oil tanker fire hits 207, nine more patients are lying at the Jinnah Hospital, fighting for their very existence.

There are as many as 25 battling for their lives at Bahawalpur Victoria Hospital 25, while 17 are being treated in Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. A senior medic of the health department has said now is the time to pray for these patients who are in critical condition.



Jinnah Hospital Medical Superintendent Professor Sohail Saqlain said those in unstable conditions had suffered severe burn injuries of more than 60%. “We are trying our level best to save as many lives as possible.

While talking to The Express Tribune, he said thanks to the extraordinary efforts of the Pakistan Consulate in the United States, the health department, social welfare department, district administration and Primary Healthcare Secretary Najam Ahmed Shah, medics have successfully put skin grafts on two patients. “Two more procedures are under way.” He added the hospital is providing the best possible facilities to patients brought in from Ahmedpur Sharqia, but the condition of some was too severe.

Organ donations

Since the on June 25, the long process of importing skin grafts has increased the suffering of the injured people. The doctor said there is also a lack of understanding on organs donations and some of the injured have waited for a whole week.

Dr Muzzam Tarrar, the head of Jinnah Hospital’s burns unit, also told the media that people are unaware of this practice despite the existence of related laws. “There is a need to establish strong narrations on organ donation,” he added.

He further said the technology is far more advanced than the one being used in Pakistan. “It will provide better treatment to burn patients. Globally, this technology is preferred, especially in the case of patients with extensive burns.”

Shaikh Zayed Hospital Dean Dr Farid Ahmed said most people do not want to donate their organs as they think it is against Islam. He added it was a great pity to see such perceptions.

“We have to wait for a long time to receive a donor’s organs which are compatible with the patient’s body. Some have to wait for years to get transplantations done,” he bemoaned.

He further stated that since the lives of hundreds of people had been cut short due to organ failures in the country, religious scholars must come forward to create public awareness.

The huge tanker fire which claimed hundreds of lives took place early in the morning on a stretch of highway cutting through the village of Ramzanpur Joya. Soon after the accident occurred, crowds scrambled to collect fuel from the tanker before it ignited, ignoring warnings to stay clear.

Tanker fire: Lack of burn units in south Punjab exacerbate situation 

The speeding tanker, carrying 40,000 litres of fuel, overturned on a main highway when travelling from Karachi to Lahore. The driver lost control when the vehicle blew a tyre.

“The tanker overturned at around 7am. The residents of Ramzanpur Joya rushed to the site with buckets and other containers, and a large number of people on motorcycles also came and started collecting the spilling fuel,” said Regional Police Officer Raja Riffat. The tanker exploded in a huge fireball some time later.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 4^th, 2017.