November 13, 2008	Thursday	Ziqa'ad 14, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Nov 12: A large number of people affected by the recent earthquake in Balochistan are suffering from respiratory infections due to freezing cold and poor shelter.

According to a report of the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), the number of cases of upper respiratory tract infection which was nine per cent of the total number of consultations on Nov 4, went up to 30 per cent in just four days.

It, however, said that no alert or outbreak of communicable disease had so far been reported to the Disease Early Warning System (DEWS) from affected areas.

It said that 6,023 consultations had been reported to the DEWS since Nov 4. Acute respiratory infections represented 51 per cent (3,048) of the total number of consultations. Acute diarrhoea represented four per cent (253 cases) while bloody diarrhoea, scabies, malaria and unexplained fever represented one per cent each.

As of Nov 9, two mobile service units of the UNFPA treated 7,788 patients in tehsil Khanozai of Pishin district and some affected areas of Ziarat. Of them 728 cases were of gastroenteritis. Antenatal consultations were 203 and post-natal 118. Thirteen deliveries were conducted with the support of UNFPA while five post-abortion cases were handled in Ziarat and Pishin deistricts.

In Pishin a 20-bed hospital in Khanozai has been damaged and health services are now provided outside. The hospital is serving approximately 27,565 people. There is no in-patient facility in the hospital and patients with minor ailments are admitted only for day care in an open area with limited facilities. Patients requiring long-term hospitalisation are being referred to a hospital in Quetta. There is an urgent need for winterised shelters to continue health services during winter.

About the international response to the calamity, the report said the Turkish Red Crescent Society had distributed 1,000 food packs in eight villages of Ziarat and is also planning to set up 10 winterised steel shelters. Each unit is designed to accommodate 12 families and consists of accommodation containers, two bathrooms, two kitchens and two food stores. These units will be transported from Turkey by road.

The American Red Cross, in collaboration with the Pakistani Red Crescent Society, has procured 350 winterised tents and 5,000 jackets which will be dispatched to Ziarat this week.