PESHAWAR, Nov 8: The establishment of field hospitals and presence of scores of voluntary surgeons and physicians in earthquake-hit regions of the NWFP have brought a rare opportunity of improving health facilities for people of these areas.

The quake-ravaged health infrastructure in Battagram, Balakot, Garhi Habibullah, Mansehra and other areas in the province has been supplanted by scores of temporary field hospitals and medical camps set up on a temporary basis by the armed forces, Islamic groups and non-governmental organizations.

For many people, the extended network of field hospitals and medical camps has come as a ‘blessing in disguise’ because under-developed areas such as Battagram, Balakot and Garhi Habibullah lack qualified doctors, modern equipment and medicines.

“We had to take our patients to Mansehra or Peshawar, because of insufficient health facilities offered at the DHQ hospital in Battagram,” said Tahir Mehmood, a resident of Kohani village in Battagram.

Teams of qualified volunteer doctors from Lahore, Karachi and from abroad, in addition to medical practitioners belonging to health facilities falling under the purview of the provincial public sector, have made it possible for the people of Battagram town and its adjoining areas to get their quake-inflicted injuries and diseases treated.

Thousands of people have benefited from these health facilities. However, according to organizers of two tent hospitals at Battagram, a number of people from among the survivors who visit these facilities every day seek treatment for illnesses suffered in the past as well.

“People with a history of old diseases are also visiting in large numbers every day,” said Dr Ali Afridi of Save the Children, an NGO.

Similar views were expressed by Teruki Hanazawa, an official of Japan’s ministry of foreign affairs. Mr Hanazawa, coordinator of a well equipped tented medical facility set up by Japan in Battagram, told Dawn that apart from people affected by the earthquake several were visiting the facility specifically for the treatment of their diseases like diabetes, high and low blood pressure, heart ailments, etc.

Naimatullah, who suffered a paralysis attack on the left side of his body two years ago, is seeking treatment at a tent hospital set up by Japanese volunteers. After waiting in a queue for some time, Naimatullah was allowed to consult a visiting Japanese doctor.