Saudi Arabia has donated a fully equipped field hospital to the Pakistan government. The hospital is at the Post Graduate College in Mansehra, in the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan.  Intended to cater to earthquake victims, it holds 40 beds and is furnished with state-of-the-art medical equipment.

The handing-over ceremony in Mansehra was attended by Pakistani Health Minister Muhammad Nasir Khan, Health Secretary Syed Anwar Mehmood and Saudi Ambassador Ali Al-Assiri.

Khan said that soon after the October 8, 2005 earthquake, Saudi Arabia was among those countries which immediately provided relief to the victims and that Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have always enjoyed a unique relationship, which has withstood the test of time. The minister recalled King Abdullah’s directive to establish an air bridge of relief items for the quake victims.

Khan expressed his appreciation of the efforts of doctors and paramedical staff and said that Saudi relief missions remained in the forefront of relief efforts.  He said international community and UN agencies acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts to handle the post-earthquake situation and that soon after earthquake, the Health Ministry mobilized 27,000 doctors, nurses and paramedics to help survivors. The minister said in order to compensate for destroyed health infrastructure, field hospitals and camps were arranged with cooperation of international agencies and health professionals from all over the country and abroad.

The Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Ali Al-Assiri said that sending relief assistance to affected areas is proof that Saudi Arabia considers Pakistan a brotherly country and that the new field hospital reflects the love and affection between the two countries.

The hospital is equipped with an emergency room, ICU, two operation rooms, five general clinics, a gynec clinic, ENT clinic, dressing room, laboratory and pharmacy. As many as 1,500 patients visit daily.

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