KARACHI: Experts at an event have said that there is no fire fighting system or emergency fire exit in institutions, schools and other places in the city which are direly needed. In Karachi, there is an increase in the number of burn incidents among men compared to women. In the country, there is no data on the number of patients suffering from burns in fire, acid attack and various accidents and incidents, while there is no legislation in this regard in the country.
This was informed by them at the Burns Prevention Awareness Program, organized by the Pakistan-US Alumni Network (PUAN) in partnership with the Health Committee of the Karachi Press Club.
Addressing the program, Dr Samia Tasleem, In charge, Burns Centre, Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi, said that last year, 1323 patients were admitted to Burns Center Karachi while 1500 others were checked in OPD. In the city, the number of burns is higher among men than among women, while the number of deaths due to burns is more among women.
She further informed that 18 percent of people who are burnt suffer from disabilities while 90% of burns can be saved. This year there were several incidents of electric burns due to which 137 people were admitted to the hospital. In 2022, the number of people burned by cylinders was 159, of which 38 died.
She further said that burning incidents in the city could be reduced through awareness, legislation, national registry, research, and home safety measures.
Dr Mazhar Nizam said that there is no registry of burn victims in Pakistan for conducting research. The incidents of burning in the city are increasing rapidly and its main reason is the lack of awareness among the people. There is no legislation in this regard from the government either.
Professor Dr Shaista Effendi, founder of Burns Centre, and Life Founder Member Pakistan Association of Plastic Surgeons, said that 100% of burning incidents could be prevented, hence, there was an urgent need to train people regarding the increasing incidents of the fire in the city and their possible prevention. She said that there is no fire fighting system or emergency fire exit in institutions, schools and other places in the city which are direly needed.
PCB Secretary Shoaib Ahmed, referring to the recent report regarding the burns of senior journalist Tufail Ahmed, said that the provincial government should establish burn units in all the districts of the province. He thanked the organizers for organizing the program. He said that the Press Club would provide all possible support in the awareness campaign about the burns issues and safety measures.
The organizer of the program, Ghazala Faseeh, said that according to the annual report of the fire brigade, there were 2150 incidents of fire in Karachi in 2023, in which 43 people died. She said that due to the gas crisis, the use of cylinders is becoming common. She asked women to check the gas installations before and after cooking so as to remain safe from fire incidents.