IHS - UAE Red Crescent Clinic, Balakot:

 

Located 9 km. short of Balakot in the small town of Baisian, on the main road leading from Mansehra to Balakot & Naran this center is financed by the brotherly government of United Arab Emirates and UAE Red Crescent Society. IHS was assigned by the UAE Embassy in Islamabad to establish and operate this center after the earthquake on 8th October 2005. 

 

It is presently the most well equipped clinical setup in the Balakot region that was worst affected by the earthquake in which 90% of the town was flattened while over 30,000 died in the region. Almost all the NGOs and other agencies that rushed to the area in the aftermath of the disaster gradually left the area 3-6 months after he tragedy. This center is the only functioning clinical care facility in an area of 50-60 sq. km. 

 

The center is open 24 hrs and is staffed with four doctors round the clock including two Lady Doctors. OPD has swelled to above 150 every day. During 2006 around 30,000 patients were provided free consultation and treatment at this center. Four beds are available for retaining patients for short duration and day cases. Ambulance support is available for shifting serious patients to Mansehra DHQ Hospital or Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbotabad.

 

Recent Update on Balakot Clinic:

 

on 7th April 2007, 203 patients came to the clinic thus breaking the one day OPD record that was previously 183 in Jan 2007.

 

In January 2010 the clinic passed the 300,000 patient mark. Till 30th January 2010 the clinic has provided free treatment to 300,915. And all of this has been made possible by the generous support of the government of the United Arab Emirates besides the dedication & devotion of the IHS doctors & nurses who despite all odds have been managing and running this center for the poorest of the poor in one of the most remote region of Pakistan that was completely devastated by the earthquake. The IHS doctors are the only hope for more then 500 thousand people living in those mountains that are not only inaccessible but unlivable also.

Vaccination center has also been setup at this clinic where immunization against all vaccine preventable diseases is provided free of cost to the children of the area. 

 

To deal with Post Trauma Stress Syndrome the staff has been imparted training by Psychologists and Psychiatrists.  Almost every family in the region has lost some one in the earthquake causing large scale depression. Psychological counseling and treatment to such patients is also provided free of cost.