KARACHI, Nov 11: The medical and para-medical staff of Lyari General Hospital, on Sunday morning, undertook a 30-minute mock exercise aimed at meeting an emergency situation in case of any disaster.

The exercise was part of the government’s mass disaster plan. After the Civil Hospital, the LGH was the second major hospital which carried out the exercise.

The drill started at 11am and continued till 12pm with siren- mounted vehicles pulled on in front of the causality department.

Stretchers manned by paramedical staff began shifting the patients into a separate emergency room exclusively meant for dealing with disaster related injured patients.

The patients were immediately attended after their arrival by the on-duty medical and para-medical personnel.

The whole exercise was performed in a smooth and orderly manner despite the fact that a large number of people in surrounding area of the hospital gathered when they heard the whistle of the fast moving ambulances.

Of the 20 patients brought to the causality, there were patients with serious head injuries and massive blood loss. They were immediately provided blood transfusion.

The exercise was supervised by Dr Imtiaz Farooq. LGH Medical Superintendent Sohrab Anwar Hakim went to each and every patient brought for the drill.

Others present on the occasion included senior doctors included Dr Mukhtar Khawaja, Surgeon Iqbal Lodhi, Dr Muzaffar and Dr Sajad Abasi.

Later, talking to newsmen, he said the hospital could provide treatment to 50 patients at a time. He further added that the hospital is well-equipped to deal any emergency.

Regarding water shortage problem, he admitted that the 550-bed hospital was faced with water scarcity problem, saying that “we are in contact with KWSB officials in this regard.”