Pakistan’s first boat clinic has been launched by Indus Hospital in southern Punjab.
The moving facility will offer medical services to a public of around 105,000 people living alongside the sides of the Indus River.. The inhabitants are the poorest of the poor migrants who can be considered as almost having no connection with the outer world.
Indus Health Network’s Global Health Directorate Executive Director Saira Khowaja stated that “The people there hadn’t seen a doctor in decades,”
She further stated that there is no provision of medical services close to the area. The two that can be considered the closest are one hour and one and a half hours away.
The boat clinic will deliver prime care to the public without any charges. It is also a lab assemblage point and medication dispensary. Soon immunization and mental health facilities will also be included.
Some services associated with vaccination is already being provided because the children residing in that area had never been given any immunization. People have gradually started taking along their children to the clinic to get immunized.
All treatment is offered over there, clarified the executive director. We’re also focusing on public health awareness here, she stated.
The clinic is composed of three docking points. At each docking point, patients data will be recorded, screened, and they will have their vitals assessed before meeting a doctor, says the Indus Health Network.
