Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital has provided medical aid to more than 15,000 flood victims this month following devastating floods in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. These floods have killed 900 people and affected more than 5 million. Eight emergency medical centers have been established in Swat, Buner, Swabi, Sambrial, Sialkot, Narowal, Wazirabad, and Kasur, where eye examinations, complete medical diagnoses, and immediate medical aid are being provided to the victims. For many victims, this was their first opportunity to access medical professionals and treatment since the floods destroyed their homes and medical facilities.
Displaced people are forced to live in temporary shelters and are facing shortages of food and clean drinking water. 900 people, including 255 children, have died in the floods. The head of Al-Shifa Trust, Major General (Retired) Rehmat Khan, launched relief operations to help those who do not have access to affordable medical facilities.
Dr. Najam, head of the Al-Shifa Center for Community Ophthalmology, said that eye inflammation, viral infections, corneal inflammation, and bacterial diseases are common in the affected areas due to contaminated water and poor sanitation. Serious diseases such as Acanthamoeba keratitis and leptospirosis have also emerged.
The organization distributed more than 2,000 eyeglasses, eye drops, and ointments. More than 3,000 people were screened for diabetes and blood pressure. Furthermore, 2,500 food packets and 3,500 water purification tablets were provided. 5,200 people were assisted in three locations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while 9,800 people were assisted in five locations in Punjab. Medical staff and support staff from Al-Shifa Trust hospitals in Rawalpindi, Chakwal, Kohat, Gilgit, and Muzaffarabad are active in the devastated areas and plan to deploy more mobile health units soon. Foundation staff are also educating communities about waterborne and eye diseases.