IMC Opens Voluntary Repatriation Center Health Post

April 12, 2002 —On March 1, IMC opened a health post at the Takhtabaig Voluntary Repatriation Center (VRC) in Pakistan, where IMC provides health services and screening for refugees wishing to return home to Afghanistan. During the first days, hundreds of refugees came to the VRC, located on the road leading out of Peshawar toward the Khyber Pass, where they waited in long lines, often overnight, without adequate water, sanitation, or shelter.

Due to the overwhelming need, IMC provides emergency and primary health care services on a 24-hour basis. Although UNHCR and the Pakistan government agreed to temporarily halt activities at the VRC for the Muharam holidays, IMC's health post continued to see patients.

Working in partnership with UNHCR, IMC health care workers see male patients and boys in tents in the waiting area, which also houses a small dispensary. Female patients and girls are seen in a separate room inside the VRC building. Particular attention is given to pregnant women and children, as they are most at risk during repatriation or migration. As of March 25, a total of 1,645 patients were seen.

IMC health staff distributes Traditional Birth Attendant (TBA) kits to birth attendants traveling with pregnant women, and UNFPA-donated self-delivery kits for pregnant women in their third trimester. In addition to providing out-patient basic health services, IMC provides a referral and ambulance service to local hospitals for patients requiring more intensive care.