Grand National Dialogue: Seminar on Healthcare Interventions during Flood Emergency in Pakistan

PRESS RELEASE, September 23 2022

ISLAMABAD: A Seminar under the series of Grand National Dialogue (GND) on the topical issue of “Healthcare Interventions during Flood Emergency in Pakistan,” was held on Friday at the Health Services Academy (HSA) in collaboration with Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI). Apart from HSA, the Health Population Think Tank (HPTT) and MoNHSR&C were other stakeholders, and dilated at length over the existing healthcare exigency in the country in the wake of monsoon floods and its ensuing destruction.

Vice Chancellor HSA Prof. Dr. Shahzad Ali Khan, President IPRI Amb. (retd) Raza Muhammad, Dr Yusuf, Emergency Cell Head Balochistan, Health Ministry; Dr Ahmed Hussen Tareq, Technical Lead, HPTT MoNHSRC, Health Services Academy, Islamabad, and Prof. Dr Mubashir Hanif, Director RIC, Health Services Academy, Islamabad highlighted the situation faced in the case of floods, and urged upon the need for proper synchronization of material and human resources to address this calamity.

Amb. Raza Muhammad underscored that proper and de facto research is indispensable to create a proper policy so that every year the nation and the country is not on the receiving end owing to natural disasters. He said that IPRI’s intention is to further research in this discipline so that health services and its utility is properly acknowledged, and subsequently lead to appropriate policy formulation.

The seminar was told that Balochistan and Sindh situation is alarming, and there are fears of outbreak of diseases such as malaria, diarrhea, dengue and other reptile-bite related infections. The challenges that are faced by authorities are in the form of providing food and shelter, proper nutrition to children and taking care of pregnant women, who are in thousands in both the provinces. It was also noted that the statistics that are compiled are far lesser in number than the real situation on ground, and it needs rehabilitation and access on a war-footing basis.

The interactive session was lively in essence as health practitioners’ called in question the criterion of deputing health staff and the absence of adequate facilities. It was observed that floods’ apathy is leading to mental stress and trauma, and thus rehabilitation in real time is indispensable.