KARACHI, July 6: The Pakistan Medical Association, Sindh, has appealed to philanthropists, pharmaceutical firms and welfare bodies to donate generously for the relief of people in flood-hit areas of Balochistan.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, the association’s office-bearers said inadequate disaster management initiatives taken by the government had multiplied the miseries of the affected people, particularly in the lower Balochistan, and as such it had become necessary for all concerned to address the situation at the earliest.
They said that PMA members from Balochistan had informed them that the flood-hit people were without proper drinking water, cooked food and shelter making them vulnerable to diarrhoea, skin and eye diseases.
Sindh PMA Secretary-General Dr Habibur Rehman Soomro said that it had been felt largely that the government had been unable to do anything significant for the people in Turbat. Since the air and road links have been restored somehow now, the PMA would send its first relief consignment comprising medicines, dry milk and fruit and biscuits from Karachi on July 7.
He said a relief camp had already been set up in Karachi to coordinate with donors and philanthropists and doctors’ fraternity in the city. “We will accept donations for plastic sheets, tent covers, water purifying tablets and chemicals, medicines including antibiotics, pain-killers, ringer lactate injection, anti-scabies and anti bacterial ointments, dressing items, water cooler and food items including dry milk, biscuits, mineral water, juices and water. The consignment will be sent to our medical and relief camp in Balochistan,” Dr Soomro added.
Dr Tipu Sultan, the relief coordinator of PMA in Karachi, said efforts were being made to gather relief items for Turbat and Pasni and other affected areas, but in the case of emergency a full-fledged medical mission could also be sent to Balochistan.
Dr S.M. Qaiser Sajjad said the relief camp set up at the PMA House will work from 10am to 6pm.
