Over four days in September, a Christian medical team served over 300 victims of the Karachi flood, many of whom were found to have been affected by water contaminated by overflowing sewage and rife with waterborne disease.
Two cities were visited, Essa Nagri and Malir Cantt, and very similar medical conditions were detected in both regions. Two doctors and four nurses helped serve the constant flow of people interested in a medical check or treatment for illness.
Free medical camp
The numbers attending increased daily as news spread about the free medical camp and medicines, and many of those who came for help had their first encounter with a doctor; for most of the others it was a rare opportunity to see a doctor.
Some of the treatable and preventable diseases detected could have been fatal if not diagnosed by the medical team. Some of the patients brought to the medical team had been carried to the camp in critical condition by friends and family. In these cases, immediate treatment was provided and transport of the patient to a local hospital was all paid for by donations to the Christian organisation who sponsored the team.
Thank God
Mrs Shamim was overwhelmed by the visit. She said: ‘After the floods many of us became sick, but no-one came to help. Anyone on the ground floor of a condo had their entire homes flooded, people died from electrocutions and drowning. Thank God that people on higher floors helped us to safety. Water rose so quickly it destroyed all the unprotected food in grocery stores and our homes. We had nothing to eat for days until the BPCA came with provisions. We all shared food with each other so that everyone had some. The water left a stink everywhere. Old sewage pipes leaked in the streets and we all became so sick. Many people have been vomiting and have had diarrhoea. It has been a traumatic time.’
Forgotten community?
Harrison Samson said: ‘I often think we are a forgotten community thought of as worthless by society. We are all street cleaners and sewage workers here and are often ignored.’
