Emergency declared in Waziristan hospitals for quake-hit Afghans.

PESHAWAR -- The health department has declared a state of emergency in the hospitals of North and South Waziristan tribal districts and adjacent Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan districts for the treatment of the injured Afghan nationals coming in from their earthquake-hit provinces, say officials.

According to them, the Rescue 1122 teams deployed in Khost province of Afghanistan have shifted 14 injured people to Pakistan during the last two days and they're admitted to hospitals in North and South Waziristan and Khalifa Gul Nawaz Hospital, Bannu, and Mufti Mahmood Teaching Hospital, Dera Ismail Khan.

Provincial additional director-general (health services) Dr Ikramullah Khan told Dawn that a state of emergency had been declared in the hospitals of Waziristan region, while leaves of staff members had been cancelled to ensure the best possible treatment of the 'complicated and critical' cases.

'We have dispatched necessary equipment and two truckloads of medical supplies, including lifesaving drugs, to Waziristan hospitals, while more will follow as requested by the local health authorities,' he said.

Official says medical team will be sent to Afghanistan if need arises

Dr Ikramullah said there was no dearth of medicines and trained staff for the purpose.

He said a special team comprising 20 doctors and nurses each and 50 paramedics with different specialties had been formed and could be sent to Afghanistan whenever the need arose.

The official said the team had surgeons and intensive care specialists, who had volunteered their services for the injured Afghans.

He said initially, the injured would be treated in North and South Waziristan, where hospitals were fully equipped and had adequate staff.

'We are closely monitoring the situation in Afghanistan and will ensure the required medical supplies and human resources reach those needing them,' he said.

Dr Ikramullah said currently, the situation was 'under control' and all Afghans, who had reached Pakistan, had been...

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