Medical teams work to contain spread of disease, infections among flood survivors in northwestern Pakistan

By: Mahmood Iqbal, September 3, 2010

PESHAWAR - As flood waters begin to recede in northwestern Pakistan, International Medical Corps health care professionals are stressing the need for preventive measures to reduce the dangers of typhoid or hepatitis outbreaks.

“Possibilities of other waterborne diseases, like typhoid and hepatitis A and E, can occur if clean water and proper sanitation are not available to the people”, warned Sonia Walia, International Medical Corps regional coordinator for Asia, noting that lack of clean water for drinking and cooking cause acute watery diarrhea among the flood victims. Typhoid, hepatitis and cholera can thrive in such unhygienic conditions.

Because health awareness is limited in the flood-affected areas of Pakistan, International Medical Corps’ relief work includes health and hygiene education. “Our mobile teams have health educators, who provide education sessions on the benefits of following appropriate hygiene practices. This is not only about preventing common diseases but also following good health practices in general”, Walia said.

Full article and pictures here.

International Medical Corps Teams Treating Victims of Floods in Pakistan

Following monsoon rains that have unleashed the worst flooding in Pakistan in 80 years, International Medical Corps continues to support displaced people through 26 mobile medical teams serving the hardest hit areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province (KPK) in the northwest. To date, the organization has conducted 25,356 health consultations. International Medical Corps also established a diarrhea treatment center in the Civil Hospital Akora Khattak outside Nowshera. Emergency medical teams are providing 24-hour treatment at the facility to those in need. In addition, GlaxoSmithKline, with facilitation from AmeriCares, donated urgently needed medicines distributed by International Medical Corps to those in need.

The latest government figures indicate approximately 1,675 people have died and as many as 1.5 million have been forced to flee their homes, with 18 million affected. Communication networks are disrupted and roads and bridges have been washed away by floodwaters, making access impossible. While no epidemic of any communicable disease has been reported so far from flood-affected areas, the number of cases of ARI, acute diarrhea and skin disease remain the top three treated diseases.

International Medical Corps, which has been operating in Pakistan since 1984, continues to provide medical services to those affected by both conflict and floods in the Swat and Buner regions. Field teams have conducted a rapid assessment of the areas which were already undergoing rehabilitation from the 2009 conflict in the region. Government health facilities, along with equipment and supplies, have been partially or totally destroyed by flooding, and require urgent rehabilitation.

In addition to medical services, International Medical Corps has deployed psychologists and hygiene promoters to address mental health and hygiene needs in the worst affected districts, including Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, and Swat. Teams are providing health education on hygiene & sanitation, including the prevention of diarrhea, scabies, and ARI. In addition, International Medical Corps distributed mini hygiene kits to 11,000 people. As the organization makes mental health care a priority in emergency relief efforts, International Medical Corps is also providing psychosocial support including teaching local coping mechanisms to help those whose lives have been devastated by the floods. Psychosocial teams have identified people with depression, anxiety, and significant psychological distress. To date, they have conducted individual and group sessions for approximately 1,375 individuals, including children under the age of 12.

“Our priority is getting people desperately needed medical services. We are seeing cases of acute respiratory infection, diarrhea and skin diseases,” said Sonia Walia, International Medical Corps Regional Coordinator for Asia. “With the lack of clean water we are extremely concerned about outbreaks of disease, including cholera. Compounding this tragedy is that many of those affected were already displaced by ongoing conflict in the region, so their mental health needs are also enormous.”

International Medical Corps has been operating in Pakistan since 1984, providing primary health care services and water/sanitation facilities to displaced Pakistanis as well as to Afghan refugees in the frontier areas.

Since its inception 25 years ago, International Medical Corps’ mission has been consistent: relieve the suffering of those impacted by war, natural disaster, and disease, by delivering vital health care services that focus on training. This approach of helping people help themselves is critical to returning devastated populations to self-reliance.

Addressing Mental Health in Pakistan Along With Cultural Needs

By Mahmood Iqbal, August 31, 2010

“…psychological illnesses are growing among the flood victims. The schools are closed and the lack of recreational activities often leads to mental complications among the children.” - Dr. Sanam Rahim, International Medical Corps psychologist in Akora Khattak


“When stress converts to depression, it becomes a long-term process to cure. Early psychosocial counseling helps lower the stress and prevent the conversion into acute post-traumatic stress disorders.” - Dr. Sanam Rahim, International Medical Corps psychologist in Akora Khattak

To date, International Medical Corps’ psychosocial support staff has conducted individual and group sessions for approximately 920 individuals, including young children.

Full article with pictures here.

For Afghan Refugees in Pakistan, Floods Mean Starting Over in a Home Away From Home

Mahmood Iqbal, August 30, 2010

“Like all people in this sprawling settlement along the River Kabul, I have also lost to the waters everything which I could put together during the past 30 years,” Inayat, an Afghan refugee living in KPK who’s family lost their mud house to the flood waters

“We are on the ground responding to the immediate health care needs of the flood affected people through 18 mobile teams. We have been operating in the flood-hit areas since July 30 to cope with the calamity. Afghan refugees are also visiting our mobile clinics and should continue to seek our free services.” - Jehangir Ali Khan, International Medical Corps Country Director in Pakistan

Full article with pictures here.