Finnish-Norwegian Red Cross field hospital opens in Pakistan

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A field hospital of the International Committee of the Red Cross, which is operated by the Finnish and Norwegian Red Cross organisations, was officially opened in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan on Friday.
      According to anaesthesiologist Erkki Saarela, most of the injuries that they have seen have been fractures of the arms and legs.
      According to Saarela, about a dozen patients had undergone surgery, and three patients were still waiting for an operation.
      "Most of the patients are women and children. At the moment our resources are sufficient. We have three surgical teams working here. In addition, we have another Finnish surgical team whose present location is unsure. It is probably somewhere outside of Muzaffarabad."
      A separate clinic is to be set up for the team, which will mainly focus on first aid-type surgical procedures.
     
On Friday a Red Cross surgeon and a nurse flew over the area in a helicopter looking for possible victims of the earthquake. The organisation has three helicopters at its disposal.
      "Our working conditions have been quite good so far. Fortunately it has been sunny and dry. We fear rain, because the hospital was set up on clay which turns into mud when it rains."
      The hospital, which was set up on a cricket field, has 100 beds, and the number can be doubled if necessary. "Our next problem will be where to send our patients. They do not have a home to go to, and fractures require fairly long treatment for recovery", Saarela explained.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Delays in setting up Finnish Red Cross field hospital in Kashmir (17.10.2005)

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