KARACHI, Oct 6: The Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA) Karachi Chapter on Friday urged Karachiites, especially philanthropists to assist it financially in carrying out relief activities, including provision of health facilities for at least next two years in Bagh, the earthquake-ravaged city of Azad Kashmir.

Speaking at a press conference at PIMA House Karachi, its Karachi President Dr Misbahul Aziz said that the PIMA had established three field hospitals in Muzaffarabad, Bagh and Balakot in addition to a base-camp at Gillani hospital Abbotabad.

“The field hospital of Bagh, Azad Kashmir is being run by PIMA Karachi, where we need at least Rs1 million monthly to carry out necessary surgeries, deliveries, OPDs, provision of medicines and provision of basic healthcare facilities to locals,” he informed.

Dr Misbah said the PIMA field hospital in Bagh was now a permanent hospital having medical equipment of Rs 30 million and having a hired staff of 100 paramedics while PIMA members, including male and female doctors, and specialists were serving voluntarily.

“In earlier days of earthquake, we had abundance of volunteers and medicines donated by the people. Now there are no volunteers so we have hired local persons. We are also running short of medicines.

PIMA also needs money to run the hospital for a committed period of next two years,” he added.

To a query, he said international NGOs and organizations, including who had set up their field hospitals in earthquake-hit areas, had closed their operations but still there were numerous small organizations, providing healthcare facilities to locals.

“But PIMA is the only organization, having fully equipped field hospitals and trained doctors who want to continue serving the suffering humanity but it was running short of financial resources.

PIMA Karachi estimates that it needs at least Rs 1 million to run its field hospital in Bagh, Azad Kashmir,” he added.

PIMA Karachi President said earlier Pakistan Air Force was transporting doctors and other supplies to and from Azad Kashmir, but now it had ceased its flights. Supply of medicines has also stopped and sooner or later, PIMA would have to purchase them from the market, he added.

“We have three options, first to close down the hospital, second to hand over these facilities to some other organization and the third to continue serving the local people. Local people and even the government want us to continue our activities,” he informed, adding that the government had promised to provide land for the hospital to PIMA on 50-years lease.

Giving details of PIMA activities, he informed that over 6000 doctors associated with the organization had served in earthquake-hit areas, of which 3500 were still there, providing healthcare facilities to locals.

“Islamic Medical Associations from a number of countries, including Malaysia, Iran, Turkey, Sudan, Bangladesh, UK, US and Gulf States, cooperated with us in this noble cause” he informed.

Dr Misbaul Aziz appealed to Karachiites to come forward in this holy month and provide required financial resources, amounting to Rs. 1 million per month to keep its field hospital in Bagh, Azad Kashmir functional till by the end of October 2008.

Several other office-bearers of PIMA Karachi, including Dr Abdul Malik, Dr Khalid Mushtaq and several other members of the PIMA, were also present.—PPI