Mardan district / Pakistan
Provision of essential health care services to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and host communities
- Diarrhoea, skin diseases and respiratory infections were the most common diseases after the floods in summer 2010. Photo: Malteser International
In spring 2009, the internal conflict between Taliban militants and the Pakistani army in parts of the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan escalated severely. Especially after the breaking of a ceasefire agreement, the army had launched attacks against Taliban strongholds in Swat and Buner. The heavy fighting resulted in a mass exodus and huge streams of IDPs moving towards neighbouring districts like Mardan District in search of shelter and protection.
According to estimations, 2.5 million people are
currently displaced due to the ongoing conflict since early 2008. Nearly
80% are residing with host families, 15% had been located in
established IDP camps (including schools and other official buildings)
and 5% are reported to spend their nights under the open sky. Since all
major roads were blocked the majority had to walk long distances and
reached their temporary refuge completely exhausted and dehydrated. In
addition, many IDPs are traumatized and feel desperate as they did not
only lose their homes, livelihoods and livestock but also family members
and relatives. Given the bad security situation, especially women and
children remain under extreme psychological stress.
Malteser International has responded to the crisis by sending two medical teams to Mardan, each consisting of a Pakistani doctor, a midwife, a medical technician as well as a community mobilizer all from Mardan and Swat Districts in the North-West Frontier Province and therefore familiar with local conditions.
The teams are operating in close cooperation with the responsible health authorities and support other medical teams. They are equipped with drugs and instruments according to given standards and may provide all necessary primary health services.
With the expected return of IDPs to Swat, also the Mobile Medical Team of Malteser International will be relocated soon to extend their essential health care services there
Malteser International - after an internal assessment - focuses on those IDPs who have found refuge among host communities, thereby placing priority on vulnerable groups like pregnant and lactating women as well as infants. While IDPs in refugee camps will usually be provided with basic necessities, the majority of the out-of-camp IDPs can only randomly be supported as they are scattered and thus first need to be identified. Even most host families are suffering from poverty, poor water and food supplies. Local health facilities are heavily frequented and even under regular conditions suffer from constant shortages in staff, service and medication.
Many IDPs originating from the mountainous areas severely suffer from the intense heat in Mardan which can reach 45 degrees Celsius at day time. They are also extremely exposed to quite unfamiliar health threats like malaria and especially to waterborne and contact diseases as well as to respiratory infections.
Malteser International has responded to the crisis by sending two medical teams to Mardan, each consisting of a Pakistani doctor, a midwife, a medical technician as well as a community mobilizer all from Mardan and Swat Districts in the North-West Frontier Province and therefore familiar with local conditions.
The teams are operating in close cooperation with the responsible health authorities and support other medical teams. They are equipped with drugs and instruments according to given standards and may provide all necessary primary health services.
With the expected return of IDPs to Swat, also the Mobile Medical Team of Malteser International will be relocated soon to extend their essential health care services there
Malteser International - after an internal assessment - focuses on those IDPs who have found refuge among host communities, thereby placing priority on vulnerable groups like pregnant and lactating women as well as infants. While IDPs in refugee camps will usually be provided with basic necessities, the majority of the out-of-camp IDPs can only randomly be supported as they are scattered and thus first need to be identified. Even most host families are suffering from poverty, poor water and food supplies. Local health facilities are heavily frequented and even under regular conditions suffer from constant shortages in staff, service and medication.
Many IDPs originating from the mountainous areas severely suffer from the intense heat in Mardan which can reach 45 degrees Celsius at day time. They are also extremely exposed to quite unfamiliar health threats like malaria and especially to waterborne and contact diseases as well as to respiratory infections.
- to improve the health status of the IDPs and their host communities, with a special focus on most vulnerable groups like infants, under-five children, pregnant and lactating women, elderly people and other groups at risk
- employing two medical teams with experienced health staff within Mardan District to support overstretched local health facilities
- equipping two medical teams with essential drugs and instruments according to given standards
- providing primary health care for IDPs and host communities, with focus on most vulnerable groups, e,g. infants, under-five children, pregnant and lactating women, elderly people
- supporting ongoing mass vaccination campaigns and registration of malnourished and dehydrated IDPs
- optionally providing and distributing essential non-food relief items to IDPs and host communities in Mardan District to make a living under changed household conditions
| Project data | |
| Duration: |
May 2009 to July 2010 |
| Financing: | Malteser International own resources and private donations |
| Contact | |
| Malteser: | Dr. Jürgen Clemens |
| 0221-9822-205 | |
| info(at)malteser-international.org |
Media library
Dr. Shumaila Akhbar, medical doctor in the Swat Distrikt with a focus on maternal and child health.
more Photos
Nach der Flut: Christine Prokopf hat die Projekte im Swat-Tal besucht und berichtet über die Perspektiven der Arbeit dort.
