PESHAWAR, Nov 8: A four-day free psychiatric camp was opened on Tuesday in the earthquake-ravaged town of Balakot. The camp, established by the Health Promotion Welfare Society, is manned by a seven-member team headed by Dr Mian Iftikhar Hussain. Members of the team left for Balakot on Monday in order to provide psychological assistance and counselling to victims of last month’s killer earthquake.

The team includes two consultant psychiatrists, three general practitioners and nurses.

Dr Hussain said that most of the quake victims needed counselling so that they could cope with the trauma they had suffered in the devastating quake. According to him, the quake survivors will begin experiencing serious psychological and mental disorders now — one full month after the catastrophe.

Since most of the survivors lost their near and dear ones in the Oct 8 earthquake, he said they are most likely to develop mental traumas.

Speaking by telephone from Balakot, Dr Hussain said that treatment and counselling facilities for psychiatric and psychological disorders would be made available to the victims free of charge. The victims will also be dispensed medicines free of charge.

“People are suffering from stress disorders and other psychiatric complications in the aftermath of the earthquake,” he said. “They need urgent medical assistance to be able to lead normal lives.”