Pakistan refugee / displaced person crisis

Rose Charities is the logistical partner of the Hillman Medical Education Fund (see www.hmef.blogspot.com). One focus of support for the fund is the. Frontier Primary Health Care Organization in Pakistan. In the current crisis, this organization continues to be in the epicenter of one of the most massive movements of internally displaced persons on the globe as the number of people who have fled Swat, Bajaur, Lower Dir and Buner, just north of them, reaches 3 million.

As the disaster unfolded in May, FPHC was among the first to response, providing emergency and maternal care at their 14 health units. Frontier now has a formal agreement with UNICEF for provision of health and nutrition services in the Sheikh Yasin town camp, at 12,000 people the largest in Mardan district. The provincial health department has provided an ambulance and driver for use. Local and international organizations wanting to assist are asked by the government to coordinate their services thru FPHC, including specialist physicians from the large government hospitals from outside the area such as Punjab.

To continue their 24/7 coverage, FPHC have hired 90 temporary staff members including physicians, dispensers, lady health visitors (LHVs), assistant LHVs, EPI technicians and nutrition assistants. Until a formal agreement was in place, FPHC was providing care with their own staff who number only 120. In addition to emergencies staff provide general OPD care, MCH care, immunization, TB control and diarrhoeal disease control.

FPHC have also established nutrition services in six IDP camps that are screening children and pregnant women, providing nutritional supplements and sharing information about preparing healthy balanced diets. Prior to establishing nutritional services, three staff members, including Dr. Wagma received seven days of training on UNICEF’s emergency approach to nutritional support.

Frontier’s response to this humanitarian crisis have been truly extraordinary. The agreement with UNICEF does not include medical supplies so FPHC could use assistance in this regard. Tax deductible donations can be made on line thru Rose Charities