Burn centres are becoming a problem for Sindh. 389 of 1,168 burn victims died in 2014 after being admitted to the Burns Centre, Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK).
According to a yearly report revealed by the Burns Centre administration, as many as 2,256 patients were reported in the Outpatient Department last year, and out of them 582 patients were discharged after successful treatment, whereas 96 patients left their treatment in the middle.
The report further revealed that 131 patients with burns were reported in January 2014, 107 in February, 110 in March, 96 in April, 103 in May, 73 in June, 88 in July, 70 in August, 66 in September, 90 in October, 111 in November and 123 December.
In 2013, 950 patients with burn injuries were brought to the centre for treatment.
Senior Plastic Surgeon and In-charge Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK) Burns Centre Dr Ehmer-Al-Ibran said that the number of burns injuries cases is increasing day by day, and preventive measures are needed to reduce such cases.
He said the most common categories of burns injuries are fire, electric, and chemical burns, and hot water. He said sprinkling cold water on people with fire and chemical burn injuries soon after the mishap is vital if their lives are to be saved.
He informed that the centre is the only one of its kind in the province where patients are being provided all medical facilities free of cost. He said that the treatment being given in private hospitals is far too costly for the average person.
He advised the public to adopt preventive measure to avoid burns-related injuries. Burns injuries are more common with women and children, because of which the administration has established a separate Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in order to cater to all kinds of emergencies.
However, many health experts believe that the number of burns injuries cases can easily be reduced if the health department completes the construction of five burns centres in different cities within Sindh. Former health minister Dr Sagheer Ahmed approved the summery for establishing five more burns centres years ago. The centres were to be constructed within the Sindh Government Liaquatabad Hospital, Liaquat University & Hospital Jamshoro (Hyderabad), Chandka Medical College Hospital Larkana, Ghulam Muhammad Mehar Medical College Hospital Sukkur and Civil Hospital Mirpurkhas.
The construction of these burns centres will reduce the number of burns injuries cases in Karachi. They will also save many precious lives as a majority of such patients die while being shifted from rural areas to Karachi. These centres, if completed, would save the lives of many burn patients.
