Midland Doctors Association UK and Pakistan Paediatric Association collaborations. Today Dr Javed Ahmed (the Pakistan Ground Logistics Lead) spoke with Professor Arif Secretary of the Pakistan Paediatric Association. Midland Doctors Association UK with advice from Dr Samia Latif and Dr Philip Monk have decided to concentrate its resources on the following paediatric activities:-
- Clean drinking water: e.g. Lifestraws, water purification tablets
- Oral Rehydration Salts and training on how to make up your own isotonic rehydration solutions
- Promote breast feeding as a simple, economical and very effective way of preventing water borne diseases in infants
- Antibiotics and dressings for wounds
- Nutritional supplements
- Antimalarial drugs (through Midland Doctors Medical camps)
A team of Midland Doctors Association UK-PPA doctors and paramedical staff have been working in Razaqabad Karachi and have vaccinated 1400 children against typhoid. Midland Doctors bought the vaccines having negotiated a very special discounted price directly from the manufacturers.
Maintaining the cold chain particularly in these climates is usually a very difficult and expensive excercise but essential in ensuring the provision of effecitve vaccines. In this instance the cold chain was maintained throughout according to the WHO protocol and the costs were kept to an absolute minimum by the fact that the vaccines were delivered to the area by the manufacturer.
The vaccination programme involved a team of 10 people who worked from 8am to 9pm. Prof Arif told Dr Ahmed me that it sometimes takes a lot of persuasion for children (and also some time for their parents) to allow vaccination. We are in the process of securing the supply of high density nutrition for 1100 malnourished/under nourished displaced children in a camp near Karachi. Again the supplies are being sourced locally to help boost the local economy and at the same time we are negotiating directly with the manufacturers in order to keep costs to an absolute minimum.
We are aiming to secure the transportation of the nutrition free of charge through the connections of one of our the team of Banker supporters in London.
