Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital treats 12000 patients at the IDP camp.

RAWALPINDI, July 01, 2009 (Balochistan Times) -- Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital Rawalpindi has treated over 12000 patients in its fifteen free medical relief camps at the IDP camp at Shiekh Shehzad, Shiekh Yasin Mardan, Shahmansoor camp Swabi and Jalozai camp Nowshera in the month of June says a monthly camp report of Al-Shifa Trust. The report says that a total number of 12,090 patients were treated at the camps out of these patients, 60 per cent were eye patients and the rest 40 per cent were other general patients. The report further says that out of the total number of patients treated 2000 were found with serious cases and were referred to Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital Rawalpindi. The patients referred to Al-Shifa Trust Rawalpindi are been treated and are undergoing surgeries and other specialized treatment free of cost, said Executive Director Al-Shifa Trust Brig Rizwanullah Asghar. He said that out of the total number of patients referred to Al-Shifa Trust 800 patients have been operated and the rest are undergoing surgeries. He further said that majority of the patients treated here at Al-Shifa were suffering from cataract. The patients after operation were quite satisfied and have been discharged. The Executive Director further said that last week Al-Shifa Trust set up three camps at the Shiekh Shehzad Camp at Mardan in which 4020 patients were treated. According to Dr. Irfan- who was part of the Al-Shifa Trust Medical team, majority of the patients were suffering from malnutrition and lack or iron specially the ladies patients. Doctor Tariq Usman - head of the medical team and a general physician also said most the people were complaining of digestion problem and skin disease, specially the children who were suffering from male nutrition and diarrhoea problems. Dr Abdullah, an eye specialist said that, due to dust and lack of hygiene, maximum patients were found with allergies and Blepharitus. He said that almost 50 percent of the people screened were found with allergies and other infections. Besides, there were also some patients who were detected with cataract. Many people complaining of refractive error, watering of the eyes squint. The patients were provided free medicines, eye glasses and eye drops, he said The response was very positive said the camp supervisor Mr. Haji Muhammad Aslam. A large number of male /female patients, both old and young, were treated at the medical camp. According to Brig Rizwan the Al-Shifa Trust has set aside Rs 10 million for the medical relief services for the IDPs and Al-Shifa Trust would continue these free medical camps for the IDPs till their life comes at normalcy. He further said that these free medical camps were aimed at providing comprehensive medical relief especially eye care services for the IDPs at the camps. Al-Shifa Trust has always remained at the forefront whenever there is any such crisis because our mission is to provide free and quality eye treatment to the needy masses.

(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)