Upon arriving in Islamabad, Pakistan (300 miles from Muzaffarabad, Kashmir) the youth began a five-day project in the Safina Children’s Home. This facility housed 42 Kashmiri children ranging in age from 4 to14 whose families were lost to the Kashmiri earthquake. Not only was the Safina Organization providing the children with necessities such as food, shelter, and clothing but also with education. The dedicated staff taught Math and English five days a week on a volunteer basis. In this facility the Youth served as English and arts and crafts instructors, allowing the children to express themselves through essays and creative tasks. By the end of the five days, those children who had silently held in their grief, were finally able to express their emotions through organized group discussions. They expressed their sorrows while also discussing factors that would enable them to triumph over the challenges they face. Among the most touching of the arts and crafts projects produced by the children was a painting by an 11 year old Kashmiri girl. When given the assignment of drawing all the tools needed to overcome adversity, she drew books for knowledge, a Mosque for religion and community, and open arms for love. Upon returning in the summer of 2007, the Youth intend to donate several books collected in the U.S. as well as continue to address the psychological needs of the children.
These rewarding five days were followed by a seven-hour trek by car through the challenging terrain of Pakistan and Kashmir to arrive at a refugee camp in Muzaffarabad. The Youth were greeted lovingly by camp leaders and volunteers, many of whom would become close friends and reliable colleagues. Their warm welcome masked the fact that most had recently lost property and loved ones in the catastrophe. The camp, located on a gentle slope at the foot of a mountain rising out of Muzaffarabad, housed approximately 500 residents in a plot the size of a football field. Also present was a dispensary walled with cement bricks and covered by a plastic canopy held up by branches. This dispensary housed medications acquired by IMI’s medication drives and included antibiotics, cardiac medications, diabetes medications, IV kits, and over-the-counter medications. Due to the lack of trained staff however, medications were being dispensed in a manner that was neither effective nor safe. By working approximately ten hours daily in the dispensary, the Youth made it their top priority to limit the dispensing of medications to over-the-counter drugs.
The remainder of the time spent in the dispensary was dedicated to caring for the ill. The youth employed their Basic Life Support, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, and EMT skills by seeing 232 patients in the dispensary, which was also used as an examining room. Of these, 72 were given over-the-counter medications. For all 232 patients a case document containing patient demographics, and a brief history and physical were written. Each patient was then sent with the document to nearby relief-aid hospitals in order to facilitate the process of healthcare delivery. 75 additional house-calls were made for non-ambulatory patients, each was given a case document. 76% of all patients seen presented with febrile respiratory illness, 21% with diarrhea, 15% with dental issues, 15% with dermatological issues, 10% requiring rebandaging of wounds.
The Youth were also able to procure vaccinations for all of the 500 inhabitants of the refugee camp by coordinating with UNICEF members who were also in Kashmir. The fact that this was made possible simply by networking with organizations in Kashmir this was possible simply by having motivated and organized personnel on the ground is a testament to the fact that simply donating money to Kashmir relief is not a feasible long-term solution. Patient transportation was also obtained for non-ambulatory patients. Additionally, the Youth were able to coordinate with the Safina Organization located in Islamabad, Pakistan in order to obtain fully paid inpatient care and housing for 6 families in the refugee camp. Families in need of such attention were chosen by the Youth and referred to the Safina Organization. For instance, upon meeting a child suffering from symptoms of Polio, he was immediately referred to Safina who provided him and his family with fully paid inpatient care and residence in Islamabad, Pakistan.
All 21 camp leaders were taught Basic Life Support and how to identify and contain outbreaks of common yet potentially fatal illnesses such as pneumonia and diarrhea. The inappropriate dispensing of donated medications was prevented, and staff were recruited and trained to appropriately dispense a limited variety of medications after taking into account the potential for allergic reaction and contraindications.
The Youth were also given the opportunity to assist in erecting semi permanent metal shelters, and delivered blankets and water to elderly refugees in the surrounding areas.
