CMAT Primary Health Care Teams to begin deployment to Pakistan on Friday.
A family photo of Internally Displaced People (IDP) in a camp near where CMAT and IMAT will be working in southern Pakistan. Notice the colour of the drinking water in the bottle – it’s the colour of tea with milk. Donations are needed to buy a large water purification unit.
September 9, 2010 – Earlier today, the CMAT assessment team confirmed that there is a need for CMAT to deploy primary care teams, and so CMAT Primary Health Care Team 1 will be deployed this Friday.
CMAT Primary Health Care Team 1
CMAT Team Members are as follows:
- Rashad Chin, MD – Edmonton, AB (Team Leader)
- Tania Correa, NP – Toronto, ON
- Matthew Douma, RN – Edmonton, AB
- Sylvia Walters, PCP – Burnaby, BC
- Anne Aspler, MD – Toronto, ON
The Situation on the Ground
The assessment team, with guidance from the local health authorities have found an area in Thatta District, part way between the cities of Thatta and Hyderabad, and approximately a 2 to 3 hour drive from Karachi. This town which has a resident population of 25,000 is currently hosting an additional 25,000 internally displaced people, who are in camps in the vicinity. The area is reported to be quite beautiful, though the Indus river is still quite swollen.
A displaced man shows the colour of the drinking water in the region. Donations are needed to buy a large water purification unit.
The existing local clinic, which has 8 health practitioners, has been overwhelmed, and CMAT will be augmenting their staff. The clinic estimates approximately 60 babies per month are being born.
The assessment team indicated that the majority of illnesses are primary care related – such as skin infections, respiratory infections, eye infections, and gastrointestinal illnesses. CMAT will also be providing mobile medical clinics to the outlying areas, to target women and children who would otherwise be unable to access health services.
Water Purification
The most immediate need, however is for clean drinking water. Currently the only source of drinking water is the contaminated river. The assessment team reports that the water from the river “looks like tea with milk”.
CMAT continues to urgently appeal for your help and generosity by making a donation to support our medical teams in their efforts to assist the Pakistani people.
To make a donation, please click below.
