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Australian health worker blasts Pakistan Officials
KARACHI: Frances Walton, an Australian psychiatrist and trained nurse nearing retirement, who landed at Islamabad airport some six weeks back to serve the ailing earthquake victims, was surprised over the ill-equipped, uneducated and untrained people of the society. She was deeply worried of the government’s ill-planned policy and lack of infrastructure while visiting the devastated site of the October 8 tragedy.
She was speaking as a guest of honour at the Pakistan Medical Association here on Wednesday, which organised a special reference meeting to honour Mrs Walton who was serving injured patients at the PMA Hospital
While sharing her experiences with the participants, she said that it was disheartening to note that no government in the underdeveloped world was prepared for any such disaster, which, according to her, occurred time and again in the Third World countries. She was amazed as to how people who could not even sign their names or express themselves in other ways were surviving in this computer age.
Besides all the hardships she faced, the Pakistan diplomatic mission in Australia was another troublesome aspect, as the authorities concerned delayed issuing her visa, which also delayed her trip to Pakistan, which she wanted to visit soon after the disaster.
It is astonishing to note that international volunteers and non-governmental organisations that wanted to serve the country during current crisis were not allowed to enter the country due to the visa policy of the government.
As a matter of fact, she said, the volunteers, doctors, and journalists who wanted to reach the site immediately were denied visa though, the federal government had issued standing orders to the FIA and immigration authorities for issuance of the visa on landing and that even the relatives of the victims be allowed to enter without visa fees.
Had this lengthy process of visa not been curtailed, the relief and rescue teams could have reached the site promptly and there would have been fewer deaths and many of the injured would have received prompt treatment, she added. Mrs Walton, who came to Pakistan for the second time said that the people of the country were very loving and sincere but it is very surprising that they were living amid very miserable conditions.
She said that it is the prime responsibility of the government to provide basic needs of the people, which include education and health as in the absence of these Pakistan would never be a prosperous country. Poverty prevails in the society due to lack of education. The government has to formulate policies for the betterment and development of the country and the people. The worst weather, she said, had added to the miseries of already affected people who need shelter, hot water, and healthy living condition. She said now they are developing skin diseases and there was a chance of infectious diseases, she added.
She was however, thankful to the PMA who provided her opportunity to work in the time of need for those severely affected victim of earthquake.
Earlier, the Secretary-General of the Pakistan Medical Association, Dr Qaiser Sajjad presented his welcome address and admired the relentless work done by Mrs Walton. Dr Haseeb Alam, President, PMA, on behalf of the association, acknowledged the services rendered by the Australian nurse and presented a momento while Prof Tipu Sultan presented her with an appreciation certificate.