Pakistan

NGO prepares to help pregnant women in flood-hit areas

Lives of more than one million pregnant women are at stake due to unhygienic conditions in the flood areas.

Obaid Abbasi September 17, 2010

ISLAMABAD: Lives of more than one million pregnant women are at stake due to unhygienic conditions in the flood areas across the country, an official from Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA) said at a press briefing on Thursday.

General Secretary PIMA Dr Mumtaz Hussain said floods were a huge challenge and needed immediate attention.

A five member delegation of Serendib Foundation for Relief and Development (SFRD) was also present at the occasion and highlighted its efforts in collaboration with PIMA for the flood victims.

The two organisations are planning to provide medicines, doctors (including female physicians), tents and winter clothes especially for the pregnant women of these areas. Hussain said that 6000 doctors including 784 paramedics, 619 medical camps and 35 ambulances had already been provided by these organisations. “Free of cost medicines worth Rs8 million have been given to these people,” he added.

Muhammad Rafiq, relief coordinator SFRD, said that the collaborative effort between the two, PIMA and SFRD, was to enhance relief efforts and make them more effective.

“Five-member teams sent out by SFRD have treated 2800 patients in different areas including Rajanpur, Muzaffargarh and Charsadda,” Rafiq said.

Furthermore, Hussain added that they were eager to send more teams to the areas and were planning to call more doctors and paramedics from abroad. “We plan to continue these efforts with concentration on expectant mothers for at least the next three months.”

“The real danger is of epidemics such as diarrhea, cholera and other viral diseases. Skin infections and water-borne diseases are already beginning to surface. These are not good signs for women and their children,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 17^th, 2010.

COMMENTS (4)

ymeen ansari | 14 years ago | Reply Amna, promoting secularism is an absurd idea for a country like Pakistan. Yes, women need their rights and yes, especially in this time of dire need. However, we must keep religion aside. It is part of a completely different equation. Most people, especially Pakistani's, tend to get very defensive when it comes to religion and you must keep in mind that the majority of them lack higher education. Many of them have come to associate giving women equal rights as "Western Propoganda" and grouping Secularism with equal rights will do nothing to further our cause.

Amna Zaman | 14 years ago | Reply There is a major need for us to promote secularism and give women equal rights in Pakistan, and especially at this time of dire need.

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Mansoor Khalid | 14 years ago | Reply CSO’s have always been at the forefront in all issues. Whether it was 2005 earthquake or helping IDP’s in Swat due to the militancy or the recent floods. With international help, its CSO’s that have kept the fabric of society united through their unmatched support work.

ali hamdani | 14 years ago | Reply The ngo sector will have to gear up for some outstanding work. Much of this work demands the equipment PIMA has. We must cater the victims before terrorists win sympathy over.

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