Premier eyes for establishing EDMC

ISLAMABAD—Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz asked the World Health Organization to look into the possibility of establishing an Emergency and Disaster Management Cell (EDMC) in Islamabad to look after the needs of the entire region. He stated this while talking to a four-member delegation of WHO led by its Director General Dr. Lee Jong Wook who called on him at the Prime Minister House here on Monday. Federal Minister for Health Mohammad Nasir Khan also attended the meeting.
Prime Minister told Dr. Lee that a data bank of resources and expertise of all the countries needed to be prepared for speedy action at such challenging times. “This will be beneficial for the whole world. We want to create opportunity out of disaster,” he said.
Prime Minister thanked the WHO Chief for the assistance and advice given by the organization in the aftermath of the October 8 earthquake. He told the meeting that apart from the physical injuries it was the psychological impact of the trauma, which the survivors have suffered, that needs to be handled on priority basis. These people, particularly women, need counseling by specialists, he added.
He appreciated the fact that the international community rushed in to help Pakistan during this hour of trial. The Premier said that due to timely action by the government, support from over 60 countries, help from local and international NGOs and blessings of the Almighty, no epidemic followed the earthquake.
He said that the government was trying hard to provide clean drinking water to the camps and there was no shortage of vaccines.
He also highlighted the commendable role played by the country’s armed forces in the relief, rescue and rehabilitation work.
Prime Minister said that Pakistan was actively working on the eradication of diseases like polio, TB, Cholera and hepatitis. HIV/AIDS also has a high priority for the government and a close vigil is being maintained in the case of Bird Flu, although no case has been detected in the country so far.—Online