Priority to prevent water-borne diseases: ICRC

Multi-disciplinary teams comprising health staff and water engineers have been deployed in the flood-affected areas.

ISLAMABAD: In addition to all the damage the floods have caused, they have also destroyed much of the health infrastructure in the worst affected areas, leaving inhabitants vulnerable to water-borne disease.

"One of our priorities at the moment is to do what we can to prevent the spread of water-borne disease," said Bernadette Gleeson, an ICRC health delegate on Saturday.

"We are also striving to boost the capacity of the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) to take appropriate action in the event of any outbreak of water-borne infectious disease. By restoring water systems to working order and distributing such items as soap and wash basins, we hope to ward off many of the health problems that could arise if large numbers of people were to use contaminated water supplies."

Multi-disciplinary teams comprising health staff, water engineers and economic-security specialists have been deployed in the flood-affected areas of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the Punjab.

The ICRC is providing support for eight basic health-care units and two mobile units enabling the PRCS to address the medical needs of the displaced.

As a precaution, the ICRC already has tents, beds, treatment facilities and medicines to treat up to 600 people in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa ready for use in the event of an outbreak of cholera.

Relief supplies for a further 14,000 flood victims have been delivered to the Quetta branch of the PRCS for distribution in Balochistan.

China helping out

Beijing Kangjiantong Technology Development Company has donated 50 Semiconductor Laser Therapeutic Instruments for the flood affected people.

The devices are useful in curing ailments such as skin diseases, diarrhea, viral and bacterial infections. They are also helpful for patients suffering from bronchitis, chronic prostatitis and rheumatoid arthritis.

The Chinese government had earlier announced an assistance of RMB 10 million for the flood affected people. It was one of the first countries to announce humanitarian assistance for the flood victims.

The Semiconductor Laser Therapeutic Instruments would be transported by the next available PIA flight to Pakistan.

Egypt sends aid

Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt is sending two C-130 planes containing humanitarian assistance for the victims of the flood

The assistance came as a response to the Pakistan’s appeal for international help, said a press release issued by the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt on Saturday.

The humanitarian aid consists of tents, medicines, blankets and food items. The Embassy of Arab Republic of Egypt is currently coordinating with the National Disastrous Management Authority (NDMA) to hand over the assistance.