Hybrid Seminar Organized by PAS Sindh Chapter on “Building Climate Resilient Healthcare Infrastructure: Post Disaster Scenario in Pakistan” (October 17, 2022)
A Hybrid seminar on “Building Climate Resilient Healthcare Infrastructure: Post Disaster Scenario in Pakistan” was jointly organized by International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), Pakistan Academy of Sciences (PAS, Sindh Chapter), Sindh Innovation Research, and Education Network (SIREN), and Avoidable Deaths Network (ADN) in the Latif Ebrahim Jamal (LEJ), National Science Information Center, University of Karachi, Karachi on October 17, 2022. The event was graced by the presence of Prof. Dr. Mohammad Wasay (Secretary Sindh Chapter Pakistan Academy of Sciences), Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhry (Coordinator General, COMSTECH & Fellow PAS), Dr. Bilal Anwer (CEO National Disaster Risk Management Fund (NDMRF), Prof. Dr. Micheal Petterson (Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand), Dr. Nibedita Ray Bennet (University of Leicester (UK) and President Avoidable Deaths Network (ADN), Dr. Ghazna Khalid (Advisor, Federal Government of Pakistan on Health Emergencies) and Dr. Nimra Iqbal (Representative of Avoidable Deaths Network from Pakistan and co-organizer of the event).
The speakers shared diverse and interesting views ranging from how disasters are not a new phenomenon for Pakistan and what impacts they have on our economy, mental and physical health and further exacerbate the risk conditions for the vulnerable population specifically women and children.
Dr. Mohammad Wasay highlighted the importance of improving disaster preparedness for future calamities. He further said that according to UN reports, among the 1700 deaths ,about third of the deaths in the recent floods in Pakistan are children, while half a million flood displaced survivors are living in relief camps. He further discussed the health challenges faced by the displaced population which include infectious disease outbreaks, skin diseases, acute respiratory illness, malnutrition and exacerbation of preexisting chronic conditions like cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.