Future health problems: Expected increase due to Pakistan Floods

by UNCENSORED NEWS | August 24, 2010 at 04:06 pm

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Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani reported that more than 3.5 million children are at risk from waterborne diseases, such as: skin diseases, respiratory infections and malnutrition which spread quickly through flooded areas. Future health problems are expected to increase due to the recent displacement of millions in Pakistan because of major flooding that has continued in the past three weeks. These problems are compounded by the overall impact on the country's medical system which is suffering from serious financial problems. Gilani said "the floods had damaged more than 200 health facilities, and that about one-third of the country's 100,000 women health workers have been displaced. Those health workers are the main primary medical care to millions of rural Pakistani women."

About 800,000 people have been cut of by floods in Pakistan and are only reachable by air, the United Nations said Tuesday, adding it needs at least 40 more helicopters to ferry lifesaving aid to increasingly desperate people. The appeal was an indication of the massive problems facing the relief effort in Pakistan more than three weeks after the floods hit the country, affecting more than 17 million people and raising concerns about possible social unrest and political instability.