UNITED NATIONS: The Pakistani contingent, which is a part of the United Nations African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), has organized free medical camps in El Daein, East Darfur, for internally displaced persons, refugees from South Sudan and prison inmates, according to a UN press release issued here.

More than 1,255 cases were treated at both the Khor Omer camp and the El Daein Central Prison, Dr. Captain Ameer Aslam of the Pakistani 4 Battalion Clinic, said.

“We are aware that [access to] health services in the Khor Omer camp and the El Daein Central Prison is very limited. That is why we decided to come over and render a helping hand in addressing some of the medical needs of the people,” Captain Aslam said.

At the Khor Omer Camp, hundreds of IDPs and refugees were treated for different ailments including skin diseases, body aches and weakness, diarrhoea, coughing, chest pains and malaria.

Separately, another free medical camp was also held at El Daein Central Prison by doctors from Pakistani Level 3 Hospital Nyala and Pakistani Battalion 4, El Daein.

Captain Aslam noted, “The contingent’s clinic in El Daein is open to the community and receives between 5 10 patients every day.” “I believe that such medical camps, if repeated, will assist the displaced in the future especially those in Khor Omer Camp, since most of us could not afford to purchase medicines,” Abda Musa, Women Representative at Khor Omer camp, said. “Plans are underway to host other medical camps in the future,” he added. Out of the more than 7,000 Pakistani military and police who serve worldwide, 2,264 are currently deployed in Darfur.—NNI