ISLAMABAD, Oct 31: The health, social welfare and women development ministries on Monday resolved to rehabilitate the paralysed patients and arrange artificial limbs for about 605 victims, who had undergone amputations due to delayed medical attention.
The resolve was reached during an inter-ministerial meeting, attended by Health Minister Mohammad Nasir Khan, Minister for Social Welfare Zobaida Jalal and Adviser to the Prime Minister on Women Development Nilofar Bakhtiar.
The meeting decided to establish special centres to rehabilitate those afflicted with paralysis of the lower limbs. Such centres would be established in Islamabad, Muzaffarabad and Mansehra.
So far, 605 amputations have been reported from the civil and military health facilities in AJK, the NWFP and the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
Special centres at the National Institute of the Handicapped (NIHd) and in Mansehra and Muzaffarabad are also being set up to provide artificial limbs and specialised medical care to the amputees.
The meeting was assured that artificial limbs being manufactured with the help of latest technology would be made available to the victims to facilitate their rehabilitation.
A national plan is being pencilled to acquire limbs manufactured in accordance with the latest technology and to continue with the rehabilitation process.
It was also decided that all unaccompanied children and women, who were healthy and need not stay in the hospitals would be taken care of by the Ministry of Women Development, whereas unaccompanied children and women requiring extended care would be looked after by the Ministry of Social Welfare.
Ms Zobaida Jalal told the meeting that the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) had pledged an assistance of Rs200 million over a period of three years for rehabilitation of the quake victims.
Mohammad Nasir Khan reiterated that adoption of any child admitted in different health facilities from the quake-hit areas would not be allowed. He said it was the policy of the government that no unaccompanied or unclaimed woman or child would be handed over to anyone unless a proper verification was carried out of those claiming guardianship.
The help of Nadra (National Database Registration Authority) was also sought during the meeting to determine the identity of anyone claiming an unaccompanied woman or child.
Our Reporter adds: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has assigned the task of coordinating relief activities in AJK and NWFP to Minister for Kana Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat and Minister of State for Water and Power Amir Muquam.
The prime minister said these ministers would coordinate relief activities with the governments of AJK and NWFP, the Federal Relief Commissioner and other agencies concerned with provision of food, shelter, medical treatment as well as the relocation of people in the earthquake affected areas.
