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| January 14, 2006 | Saturday | Zilhaj 13, 1426 |
PM reaffirms support to quake victims
ISLAMABAD, Jan 13: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has reiterated the commitment of the government to continue the relief and rehabilitation work in the earthquake affected areas till the revival of normal life there. Talking to newsmen after the visit of Melody Relief and Rehabilitation Centre here established by philanthropists to help the quake victims, the Prime Minister said the government would continue relief and rehabilitation with the cooperation of private sector to help the people affected due to October 8 earthquake.
The Prime Minister said special attention was being given to orphan, widows and other seriously injured people.
He said besides providing basic needs of life including food and medicines, the government had also taken steps, for reviving income opportunities for the people affected due to the quake.
Replying to a question, the Prime Minister said due to effective measures taken by the Ministry of Health, there was no report of any epidemic from any part of the quake affected areas.
He said due to cold weather in the mountains following October 8 earthquake, there are reports of pneumonia and other minor diseases.
The prime minister said government also made comprehensive preventive measures and camp management in the affected areas had provided all out help to the victims with the help of private sector.
Appreciating the efforts of camp management of Melody Relief and Rehabilitation Centre, the Prime Minister said best possible medical and relief care was available to the patients suffering from paraplegic disability at this centre.
He said the government had also established many paraplegic and quadriplegic centres to help those who were injured in the quake and added that government and private sector were working jointly in this regard.
The Prime Minister said he came to visit the centre on Eid day to express solidarity with the quake victims on this day and share the feelings and happiness with the people who were affected by the quake.
Shaukat Aziz said the process of the rehabilitation, relief and reconstruction was a long journey but expressed the hope that the government with the help and cooperation of national and international organizations would success in this gigantic mission.
He also thanked the expatriates working in various countries for their help and assistance for the quake victims and to establish centre of artificial limbs.
The Prime Minister said government also concentrated on the revival of the educational facilities in the earthquake affected areas and with the cooperation of NGOs had re-opened many schools.
Earlier, the Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz along with Minister of State for Interior Dr. Shahzad Wasim, Minister of State for Overseas Pakistanis Senator Azim Ahmed Khan, Secretary Health Anwar Mahmood Sayed and Mrs. Yaqoot Jamil ur Rehman visited the different sections of the centre and enquired about the health of the patients.
He also distributed ‘eidee’ among the victims and assured them that the government would provide full cooperation and assistance to them.—APP
Our Staff Reporter adds: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz toured the 212th US Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) in Muzaffarabad with Commander Disaster Assistance Centre Rear Admiral Michael Lefever, a statement issued by the US Embassy Office of Public Affairs said on Friday.
During the visit Prime Minister Aziz met with American and Pakistani medical personnel and spoke with patients. Prime Minister Aziz reviewed first hand how the American and Pakistani medical personnel were working together to address the needs of earthquake survivors.
According to Rear Admiral Lefever, the medical partnership is working to the advantage of both governments and patients.
“We are very pleased to have Pakistani doctors working along side our doctors,” said Admiral LeFever.
“This partnership continues to illustrate what a wonderful relationship we continue to have between our two counties”.
Currently, four Pakistan military doctors, four nurses and two medical technicians are assigned to the mobile hospital. In addition, the Association of Physicians of Pakistani Decent of North America sends doctors from the United States for one-week rotation.
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