KARACHI, Nov 11: Lack of proper training in trauma management could lead to devastating consequences, which could easily be witnessed after the Oct 8 earthquake. These views were expressed by healthcare professionals at the inaugural session of a three-day workshop on trauma management organized by the Centre for Skills Development, Dow University of Health Sciences in coordination with the Primary Trauma Care (Oxford, UK), here on Friday.

The speakers comprising senior orthopaedists, neurologists and surgeons mentioned that no less than 7,000 cases of paraplegic (waist paralysis) were registered among the quake survivors.

If they would have treated properly and provided with simple but necessary support, without any delay, could have been safeguarded against the life long disability, the experts opined.

Instances of unwarranted amputation were also referred to as infections due to improper dressings could not be avoided.

It was mentioned that even in cases of accidents, explosions, fire outbreak as well mortality and morbidity could not be avoided at times as our ambulances were not only devoid of the basic gadgets but the concept of a trained paramedic cum doctor was still unknown.

Reservations were also expressed with regard to the accessibility to trained professionals and availability of required facilities at the emergency and accident units being run in most of the local hospitals including tertiary care centres.

“Mishandling and negligence cause loss of lives besides leaving many more disabled,” they commented adding that the situation ought to be changed with the provision for training of all medical students, teachers, doctors, paramedics and nurses and technicians in trauma management.

DUHS Vice-Chancellor Prof Masood Hameed Khan in his keynote address on the occasion said that the university was focussing on skill development of its students as well as faculty through a series of training programmes on trauma management, communications skills and so-forth.

Referring to the series of courses and programmes organized by the Skills Development Centre, DUHS, he said special focus would be on the undergraduate students who would be provided hands-on training facilities.

The vice-chancellor announced that the DUHS would install 100 filter plants in the tent villages set up in the quake-devastated areas of the NWFP and the Azad Kashmir, so as to provide the survivors pure drinking water.

These water filter plants will have the capacity to provide a total of 300mgd water, he further added.

Later, Dr Khan urged philanthropists to donate for the installation of these 100 filter plants, for which, donations could be deposited in account no.0102257.2 of UBL, Babe Urdu Branch, for foreign donations, swift code is UNILPKKA and code no is 0401.

Dr M. Khalid Siddiqui, Director, (Surgical and Allied), Centre for Skills Development, DUHS in his welcome address said that 30 doctors had been registered for the programme, providing two-day training to the primary trauma care providers and one day instructors’ course.

The master trainers to be trained during the exercise would emerge as a major support to train the medical community in general, he hoped mentioning that the training programme in question will be certified by the Primary Trauma Care Foundation-Oxford, U.K.

Dr Shariq Ali, Shams Nadeem Alam and Dr Maratib also spoke on the occasion.

Senior professionals including Dr Saeed Minhas, Dr Saleem Ilyas, Dr Rashid Jooma, Dr Bushra Shirazi, Dr Jameel, Dr Zahid, Dr Shams Nadeem Alam will conduct different sessions of the training programme.

The inaugural session was followed by a practical demonstration of first aid in trauma care.

—APP/PPI