Al Shifa Trust Eye Hospital Rawalpindi

Special Supplement For Earthquake Victims

Tragedy Hits Pakistan

October 8, 2005 was a day of mourning in Pakistan. An earthquake of the intensity of 7.6 on Richter scale hit northern Pakistan including Kashmir. There had never been an example of such severe earthquake during the last one hundred years in this area. The damage to life and property has been colossal. Highly conservative figures put the death toll at over 80,000 (20,000 have been children) with 3.3 million people affected. Over half million families are shelter less and totally deprived of all they had. 70% of the houses are badly damaged or destroyed.

Those who have survived, face the threat of harsh winter with serious health risks especially to children, permanent disability, loss of job and disturbed mental health. The type of injuries are mostly crush injuries resulting in complicated multiple fractures and extensive loss of soft tissues threatening the loss of limbs. Many a times limb amputations have to be carried out in order to save the life.

In the long-run, Pakistan faces the huge task of re-building multiple new cities in Azad Kashmir and Hazara division of NWFP, rehabilitation of hundreds of thousands of people in terms of job provision, artificial limb fitting, putting in place measures to minimize the loss of life and property in the event of any such mishap in future.  Thousands of children have gone parentless, and they will need lot of support from community and government for long time to come.

Al-Shifa Trust rises to the occasion

The geographic location of Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital Rawalpindi has assumed greater importance in face of this national tragedy. It is just 90 km south east to the epicenter of October 8 earthquake. It has been catering to the eye care needs of all these areas which have been devastated by earthquake. 60% of our eye patients come from Mansehra, Abbotabad, Balakot, Battagram, Muzaffarabad, Bagh, Rawalakot, and adjoining Kashmir and NWFP areas. 

In this hour of distress, that we are only eye care service providers, has not in any way limited our role towards serving the national cause. Where there is a will, there is a way. In collaboration with Pakistan Red Crescent Society and Islamic Help Charity, we have undertaken following measures: -

• Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital Rawalpindi has provided a 100-bed fully furnished ward and 6-table fully furnished operation theatre for earthquake victims.
• This facility is manned by over two dozens specialist staff from UK. A complete trauma team, it includes plastic surgeons, orthopedic surgeons, vascular surgeons, anesthetists, accident and emergency specialist nurses, physiotherapists and psychologists.
• This Earthquake Trauma Management Unit (ETMU) is busy in management of complicated injuries which cannot be tackled easily in an ordinary general hospital set-up. 25-30 operations are being conducted daily.
• Orthopedic and plastic surgical instruments have specially been purchased by Al-Shifa for this purpose.
• Al-Shifa is also providing most of the operating room nursing and support staff for this purpose. This has been made possible by bringing in additional staff from our Sukkur and Kohat hospitals.


• Physiotherapy and emotional support services are also being provided in the ward.
• A fully furnished accommodation block has been allocated for relatives/attendants of admitted patients.
• High-protein food is also being provided on regular basis.
• For child patients, special TV and play room has been set up within the ward to help relieve the emotional stress they are suffering from.

So far, over 150 patients have been treated: Operations include wide range of fracture fixation, skin grafting and other advanced procedures like heel formation etc.

We specially acknowledge the support provided by Islamic Help Charity, UK in organizing the visits of UK Surgical teams.

Role of Young Friends of Al-Shifa (YFA) needs special mention. They are constantly providing the much needed emotional support to children through various social support programs. They have been very active in relief work carried out by Halal-e-Ahmer (PRCS) like helping in transport and distribution of relief goods in earthquake hit remote areas and donation of blood etc. YFA has set an example worth emulating for all of us.

Future Plan

The process of rehabilitation is long and tedious one. It needs perseverance, commitment and support for years to come. Most of the patients need multiple surgeries. Each patient will need a follow-up, repeated dressings etc. for at least 8-12 weeks. 15% of patients have undergone amputations of limbs. They will need artificial limbs. Limb-fitting in itself is a long process and there are very few centers in the area which have the expertise. Almost 90% of these patients have no place to go. They will need shelter. Health, schooling, orphanage etc. are some of the issues which need to be addressed by community in general.

 In collaboration with Pakistan Red Crescent Society, our Rehabilitation Plan includes the following: - 

1. Establishment of Children Village where orphans and widows will be settled on the pattern of SOS villages. Provision of all facilities for their health, professional and skill development, education and employment will be part of this re-settlement process.
   
2. Reconstruction of a degree college at Chenari (Chakothi sector of District Muzaffarabad)
   
3. Reconstruction of hospitals.
   

DESPAIR, HOPE, TEARS AND SMILES

A saga, a chronicle, which started with disaster,
helplessness and despair, has now evolved 
into a spirit of sacrifice, selflessness and hope.

Arbaz from Athmuqam, Muzaffarabad was rescued 8 days after he was scalded by hot milk which spilled over him at the time of earthquake. His whole chest skin was lost. Before surgery he looked down at himself and sighed” I wanted to become a doctor, but alas no more”. A heroic plastic operation saved him from disability and despair. After the surgery, Arbaz is happy and we believe that his dreams will come true.

Fatima from Mansehra was at school when she was injured. Her left leg has since been operated. Smile has never faded from her face and God willing, it will never fade.

40% of the affected are children. They have not only suffered physically but are passing through tremendous emotional stress. At Al-Shifa PRCS ward, YFA has done tremendous job by providing emotional support. Here they are busy in drawing and sketching.