LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: In a landmark move to ensure medical relief for flood-affected communities, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has introduced the innovative “Clinic on Boats” service. This initiative aims to provide timely and essential healthcare to vulnerable populations, particularly women and children, who have been displaced and left without access to regular medical facilities due to recent floods.
The Chief Minister has emphasized that healthcare is a top priority in ongoing relief operations. In addition to the boat clinics, the provincial government has established 986 “Clinics on Wheels” and medical relief camps across flood-hit districts. These mobile and camp-based services are staffed with qualified doctors and healthcare professionals to cater to the pressing needs of the affected population. Special focus is being given to maternal and child health, ensuring that pregnant women and newborns receive immediate attention and routine vaccinations.
To further strengthen healthcare accessibility, a rural ambulance service has been launched to guarantee swift transportation for patients requiring advanced treatment at hospitals and healthcare centers. This step is crucial in addressing emergencies and preventing avoidable fatalities in remote flood-affected areas.
The clinics are equipped to deal with a wide range of health challenges that commonly arise in flood-stricken environments. Special provisions have been made to treat cases of insect bites, skin infections, gastrointestinal disorders, and waterborne diseases such as Cholera and Malaria. By providing immediate medical attention, the government seeks to curb the outbreak of epidemics that often follow large-scale flooding.
This initiative demonstrates the Punjab government’s firm commitment to safeguarding the health of its citizens, particularly the most vulnerable groups in the flood-hit areas in the province . By bringing medical services directly to those stranded or displaced, “Clinic on Boats” represents a proactive and compassionate response to one of the province’s most urgent crises.
