Médecins Sans Frontières Teams Treat Wounded from Lower Dir Blast

15 September 2011 -- Following a bomb blast today at a funeral in the Jandol area of Lower Dir in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, dozens of severely injured people have been treated by Médecins Sans Frontières teams and existing medical staff in the Timergara District Hospital emergency room.

Seven people died before arriving to the hospital. Medical teams carried out emergency surgery and stabilised many patients. Eight people with head injuries and open fractures have been referred to Peshawar for further treatment.

“Most of the patients are severely injured, with open fractures and limb, chest, and abdominal injuries,” said Dr. Zaheer, assistant medical officer for Médecins Sans Frontières in Timergara. “As of late this afternoon, seven patients underwent emergency surgery.”

Since 2009, Médecins Sans Frontières has been supporting the casualty departments at Timergara District Hospital,including the resuscitation room, observation area, and emergency operating theatre. Médecins Sans Frontières has also worked with hospital staff on mass casualty preparedness.

More than 1,300 patients are treated each week at the hospital’s emergency room, both by Ministry of Health and Médecins Sans Frontières medical teams. Approximately 100 surgeries are conducted each month in the Médecins Sans Frontières emergency operating theatre.

Médecins Sans Frontières also supports the delivery room in the mother-and-child healthcare ward, as well as the hospital’s blood bank, laboratory service, and sterilisation and waste management systems.