Doctors warn of psychological trauma of aftermath of Pakistan’s floods
(MENAFN) Continuous heavy rains and severe flooding in northern Pakistan have caused extensive damage to infrastructure and farmlands, destroying hundreds of homes, roads, and bridges, while also sweeping away livestock.
Now, the affected communities face an even more critical threat: the potential outbreak of waterborne and other illnesses, alongside the psychological toll of the disaster. In response, government health agencies and humanitarian organizations have established temporary clinics and medical camps, particularly in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region, to manage the expected surge in cases of waterborne and skin-related diseases.
Floods and rain-related accidents have already claimed over 400 lives across the province since mid-August, as stated by reports.
"Post-floods situation is even more dangerous as the lurking threat of outbreak can kill more people than floods did," warned Dr. Abdul Ghafoor Shoro, the secretary general of Pakistan Medical Association, a nationwide body of medical professionals.
Speaking to reports, Shoro emphasized the need for an urgent "prevention plan" that ensures access to essential health resources, including safe drinking water and sanitation, to lessen the impending danger.
"Considering the given hygiene conditions, we cannot fully contain the outbreak and possible deaths, but a smart prevention plan can reduce the volume of a secondary disaster to a good extent," he maintained.
Dr. Mohammad Zahid Latif, head of the health division of one of the country's largest relief organizations, noted that cases of waterborne and skin diseases are already rising in the affected areas.
"Thousands of people, mainly children, have arrived with complaints of diarrhea, gastroenteritis, dengue fever, malaria, and skin issues. Thousands more (with similar complaints) are still stranded on the outskirts due to the blockade of roads and washing away of bridges," he told reports.
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