IHN to initiate ‘boat clinic’

The Indus Health Network (IHN) is embarking upon a new journey to provide primary care services through the first-ever ‘Boat Clinic’ in Pakistan. The initiative will serve the vulnerable population in southern Punjab with limited access to any type of health services. Reportedly, the clinic will provide quality screening and primary care services free of charge. Patients in need of secondary and tertiary level care will be referred to the IHN partner and referral sites. The catchment area is home to approximately 105,000 people, including 47% male and 53% female population. The inhabitants are marginalised and vulnerable, with bare minimum access to communications. The area gets completely submerged during the floods. In such a scenario, the only way to get healthcare is by boat, as per reports. The ‘Boat Clinic’ service will be launched in the coming month with a couple of docking points.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 11^th, 2020.