Commerce Reporter
KARACHI: The CEO of the National Disaster Risk Management Fund (NDRMF), Islamabad, Dr. Bilal Anwer said that floods in 2022 had emphasized the importance of disaster resilience health infrastructure for the country, as there was a dramatic shift in the priorities of people soon after a disaster and the health care services became the second most top priority after food.
One of the major priorities in post-disaster response is an urgent delivery of lifesaving and livelihood assistance in most affected areas in line with their needs, the NDRMF Chief said.
He was addressing a one-day hybrid seminar on “Building Climate Resilient Healthcare Infrastructure: Post Disasters Scenario in Pakistan” held at the Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD), University of Karachi, on Monday.
The seminar was also addressed by Prof. Dr. Michael Patterson, Auckland University of Technology (AUT), New Zealand, Prof. Dr. Mohammad Wasay, Secretary PAS Karachi Chapter, Dr. Hideyuki Shiroshita, the Founding President of Avoidable Deaths Network, Prof. Dr. Nibedita S. Ray Bennett, Associate Professor in Risk Management, University of Leicester, UK, Prof. Dr. Ghazna Khalid, Technocrat, Social Activist and Gynecologist, and Dr. Nimra Iqbal of Avoidable Deaths Network.
The seminar was jointly organized by Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, the Pakistan Academy of Sciences (PAS), the Avoidable Deaths Network (ADN), and UK, Sindh Innovation Research Educational Network (SIREN).
Dr. Bilal Anwer said that the disaster imposed multiple pressures on the health system and caused disruption for providing health services to people.
He said, “As many as 6.3 million people affected by floods lost their household sanitation facilities while 4.7 million affected persons are not practicing handwashing with soap at critical times due to lack of facilities and limited awareness.”
In connection with the health support activities, NDRMF has provided a grant of USD 50 Million during the Covid-19 Pandemic for the procurement of first of vaccine and personal protective equipment (PPE), he said.
Prof. Mohammad Wasay underlined the importance for improving disaster predictability and preparation for the disasters coming in future. He said, “The UN reports an estimated 1,700 people have lost their lives, a third of them children, and 12,800 have been injured, while half a million-flood displaced are living in relief camps; largely in Sind.”
