The news of the Pakistan earthquake was the early newsflash on the Saturday October 8th,2005 morning TV news shows.
Within minutes of the news break APPNA Executive Committee and the Social Welfare and Disaster Relief Committee held a conference call outlining the strategic plan for this human calamity which has by now taken close to 80,000 lives.
The strategic plan consisted of three phases immediate, intermediate and long term. These stages were based on emerging medical needs to save lives, provide food, shelter and clothing.
Immediate Phase:
There was an immediate need to buy tents
since human dwellings were either demolished or rendered unsafe for
habitation. This created whole populations at the mercy of the bare
sky, fierce cold winds, rain, hail and direct sun.
Money was allocated to tents and blankets. APPNA collaborated with organizations which had existing logistic mechanisms for delivery of emergency supplies. Donors to APPNA�s efforts expressed a preference for NGO's working in the affected area and so collaboration was sought with these entities.
Intermediate Phase
Intermediate relief measures consisted of providing medical relief to
the injured. A decision was made to upgrade facilities already existing
in Islamabad and field areas instead of setting up new ones.
Medical equipment such as anesthesia machines, C-arm X-ray equipment, surgical equipment and other related trauma related supplies acquisition became a high priority. Three operating rooms which had been vacant were fully equipped at PIMS with funds from APPNA and IMANA. These are now operational and ongoing surgical missions of APPNA are scheduled to utilize these.
A pneumatic drill was purchased in Karachi by APPNA and donated to a Ayub Medical College in Abbotabad so that more trauma patients could be helped. Collaboration was done with other medical facilities also such as Rawalpindi Medical College, Polyclinic Islamabad and Military Hospital. The only remaining MASH of US Army is now being set up in the affected area and APPNA has agreed in principal to supply specialists to operate in that field hospital.
Work is ongoing in the supply of surgical and orthopedic apparatus at field hospitals and tertiary facilities in Pakistan.
Long Term Plan
Long term plan is to rehabilitate the amputees and spinal cord
injuries. APPNA plans to set up its own 25-30 bed rehabilitation
hospital in Muzaffrabad. Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir is eager to
collaborate and his government plans to become a partner in this task.
APPNA will hand over this facility after running it for one year. A
Pakistani origin husband and wife team experts trained in USA in
prosthetics is committed to serve in this cause for one year to three
years.