As many as 65 survivors of October 2005 earthquake, still living at National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine (NIRM), have demanded that AJK government provide them with shelter and other facilities. October 2005. That was... ummm... (carry the seven, divide by nine, square root of 41...) three and a half years ago. The government of Pakistain, after three and a half years, has been unable to find accomodations for all the survivors?
A total of 150 people, rendered disabled by the killer quake, were brought to the NIRM and approximately 65 of them were still being treated there. Most of them have sustained spinal cord injuries. The patients told Daily Times that the medicines prescribed by doctors were to be purchased from market and that they were told to quit the hospital as soon as possible. "We are suffering from major injuries. We cannot afford treatment from private hospitals," they said.
I can understand why the hospitals was to find them new homes, since hospitals aren't hotels. I can understand why the patients don't want to buy the meds on the market, since they're laid up with
Mohammad Saeed, attendant of a patient, said, "My wife Khatoon Bibi sustained spinal cord injuries. But NIRM officials refused to operate on her. Doctors advise us to go to any other hospital for treatment. I have learnt that the treatment will cost Rs 150,000 at Pakistan Institute of Medical Science (PIMS), which I cannot afford."
And nobody's kicking in any emergency relief funds, even though Europe and the U.S.A. and even the Arab world kicked in...
Patient Aftab Ahmad Khan said he sustained leg injuries and was admitted to NIRM in 2006. He said now the hospital administration wanted him out but he had no where to go. "If we refuse, the hospital officials say they will throw us on the road," he said.
I knew one guy who came down with pancreatic cancer. Our local hospital admitted him and Medicaid covered the costs of his stay. When he was ready to be released he had nowhere to go -- no job, no money, couldn't work. The hospital kept him until they found him a place in a hospice.
The patients said former Punjab government used to assist them by paying Rs 6,000 per month but the present government had halted their funds.
Nawaz and his followers making off with the relief funds? I am so shocked. Really.
NIRM Director Dr Fazl-e-Maula said the NIRM had extended all possible assistance to the earthquake victims. He said the earthquake left many men, women and children physically disabled which were treated at NIRM. He said the patients should now go to their original localities as the hospital could not give them and their families permanent accommodation. He urged the AJK government to arrange shelters for the patients.