Lack of coordination affecting

NOWSHERA: Lack of coordination among different health outlets at Jalozai camp for the internally displaced persons (IDPs) has affected the health delivery system, lessening relief to the homeless families.

The Jalozai camp, which was established in 80s for Afghan refugees and subsequently dismantled, had to be re-established but this time for the natives from the strife-stricken area of Bajaur tribal agency. However, for Afghan refugees, mud-houses were built at the site that protected them from the sweltering heat, besides providing them some sort of security.

Now the huge tent city has been divided into different phases for administrative purposes. The influx from different districts of Malakand division due to military operations added a new phase to the tent city now named “Benazir Relief Camp”.

In the Benazir Camp, both the private and public sectors have established health facilities, including President’s Primary Healthcare Initiative (PPHI), LHWs Programme, Hamza Foundation, Ummah Welfare Trust, army field hospital, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Marlin camp, Benazir Health camp, Lady Reading Hospital camp, etc.

Talking to The News, a doctor on duty said acute respiratory infection was on top among the displaced persons, closely followed by diarrhea perhaps due to poor sanitation and unclean drinking water. He said that diarrhea and scabies were recording a surge and needed urgent containment steps.

It was observed that there were a lot of medical camps but they had no coordination at all. There is overlapping of services. Also, people feign illness to receive drugs, only to sell them in the market.

“There should be a centralised medical assistance system in which a patient should be issued a health card through which he could get access to healthcare facility. It will also help end overlapping,” said a senior doctor at the camp while pointing to cases where one patient avails the facility simultaneously from different outlets.

The PIMS and Pakistan Army have established field hospitals providing almost all indoor hospital facilities. However, emergencies are referred to Pabbi Satellite Hospital.

After visiting the other phases of Jalozai camp, it was observed that Phase-I and II were comparatively more structured and organised. In these phases, the IDPs were being provided all basic health facilities, including EPI Programme and anti-TB services while in the newly established Benazir Relief Camp for the displaced people of Swat, Dir and Buner things were still disorganized.