Comprising two doctors, two senior nurses from the SingHealth cluster and two staff from MR, the team will bring along with them medical supplies and equipment. They are expected to reach Islamabad on Wednesday. The team will immediately embark on a 3-hour journey by land to the devastated town of Abbotabad where they will receive the latest updates from MR’s partner on the ground, the Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA).
Thereafter, the team is scheduled to head for Muzaffarabad, the provincial capital of Pakistani-controlled Kashmir and one of the worst affected areas. There, they will provide medical assistance to some 30,000 casualties at the partially damaged Kashmir Surgical Hospital where there is currently an urgent need for orthopaedic and A&E specialists for triage and treatment of casualties. The team will also conduct a preliminary needs assessment for subsequent missions to the region.
"We are saddened by this catastrophe that has afflicted South Asia. The SingHealth group is prepared to assist with any emergency humanitarian aid that is needed of us. We will work closely with Singaporean authorities and NGOs to coordinate and deploy the necessary medical expertise, supplies and relief to help the victims of this devastating earthquake. We will also keep in regular contact with our SingHealth volunteers in the field to ensure their safety and respond when immediate help is required," said Professor Tan Ser Kiat, Group CEO, SingHealth.
Through PIMA, MR has procured USD15,000 worth of emergency relief supplies purchased in the capital of Islamabad. These include tents, blankets, food packs and medicines which are crucial to support the increasing needs of the survivors.
"Mercy Relief, through PIMA, have purchased the relief items in Islamabad at this acute phase as it is quicker and more cost-effective. Their acumen to the current needs on the ground and established network have paved the way for the mission and the supplies will be ready for us to pick up when we arrive in Islamabad", said Dr Fatimah Lateef, MR Director and A&E Consultant for Singapore General Hospital (SGH) who will be leading the first relief mission.
Three out of the four medical personnel on the team have been on previous relief missions with MR. Dr Fatimah led a relief team to Meulaboh, Aceh to attend to the medical needs of the tsunami victims earlier this year. She was also part of the reconnaissance mission team to the city of Bam, Iran in response to the December earthquake 2003. In 2002, Dr Fatimah, together with Senior Staff Nurse Ja-afar bin Yusof and Senior Midwife Zaiton bte Mohd Tahir, provided medical aid to Afghan refugees in the war-torn town of Spin Boldak in southern Afghanistan.
Orthopaedic Registrar Dr Chin Pak Lin from Changi General Hospital will play a key role in attending to the wounds and orthopaedic injuries which are common to an earthquake disaster.
MR Head of International Programme Frederick Foo will be co-leading the mission with MR Head of Administration & Finance Izuan Rais acting as Liasion Officer for the team. Mr Izuan has led a mission team to provide food relief in the northern Afghan-Pakisan border in 2003.
The team is expected to return to Singapore on 25 October 2005. Two other teams are presently on standby.