POST-DISASTER HOUSING RECONSTRUCTION: A Study of The Government of Pakistan’s Housing Reconstruction Programme in Azad Jammu & Kashmir after October 2005 Earthquake

Qabil Ajmeri (an Urdu poet) once wrote: وقت کرتاهے پرورش برسوں حادثہ ایک دم نہيں ھوتا Translation: Time nurtures for years Accident is never sudden Same is true for disasters; they just don’t happen suddenly. It is our actions (or inaction in certain cases) over the years that turn a hazard into a disaster. Development policies, governance system, disaster management system, poverty, and level of hazard are some of the most important factors that contribute towards disaster vulnerability. Most of the developing countries suffer higher disaster losses (as compared to the developed countries) due to their inability to properly address these factors. Societies need to have better development policies, good governance, efficient disaster management system, and improved livelihoods to minimise disaster vulnerability. Conducted from the positionality (Robinson 2014) of a victim of the earthquake and an important functionary of the post-2005 earthquake reconstruction programme in AJK, this research is an auto-ethnographic study in order to understand how societies become vulnerable to natural disasters and what role post-disaster housing reconstruction can play in addressing this vulnerability. By loosely following Blaikie et al.’s (1994) ‘Pressure and Release’ (PAR) model and Collins’ (2009) “disaster and development approach”, this research attempts to find what factors made people vulnerable to seismic hazard in AJK and turned an otherwise not so big Mw=7.6 earthquake into one of the deadliest environmental disasters in the world. The performance and impact of the post-2005 earthquake housing reconstruction program is evaluated in this study by using the mixed-methods research approach. The study finds that the sustainability of the seismic resistant construction and continuation of the pre-earthquake vulnerability factors are still issues. Till the time issues mentioned in this study are not addressed properly, communities in general and the study area in particular will remain vulnerable to environmental disasters

Analysis of the Health Care Delivery System in Pakistan and Nepal

The health care delivery system (HCDS) of a country plays a significant contribution to its development. The provision of effective, efficient, and quality health services leading to decreasing morbidity and mortality rate across the country. Primarily, these services are provided to promote, protect and maintain the health of every individual and enable them to take an active role in country development. Health is now a global issue and HCDS and its challenges are varies from country to country. Analysis of HCDS is important to determine its key resources, challenges and effective utilization of these resources. Here, we analyze HCDS of Pakistan in contrast to Nepal with aspects of health services, financing, health workforce, medical products and technologies, information, service delivery and give some recommendations at the end that address the key problems in the systems. Keywords: HCDS, Pakistan, Nepal, Health workforce DOI: 10.7176/JMPB/62-02 Publication date: December 31st 201

Participation of NGOs for development of Socio-Economic status of Employees in Pakistan

This study investigates the development phenomena launched by local and international NGOs in the context of Pakistan especially in the field of education, health, saving, living standard, socio-economic, environment, micro-finance, good governance and social justice etc. Notwithstanding, this study examines the effect of NGOs’ policies on socio-economic development of their employees in Southern Punjab. Data were collected through questionnaires which have been analyzed with E-Views. For this study, total number of 300 respondents was selected from 12 districts of Southern Punjab. The districts included in this study are (Bahawalpur, Bhakkar, Dera Ghazi Khan, Jhang, Khanewal, Layyah, Lodhran, Multan, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur, Rahim Yar Khan and Vehari). The number of respondents included in this survey varies from organization to organization and district to district. The non-probability (purposive sampling) method was used for the selection of employees of organization and for data collection. Hence NGOs in Pakistan play the important role of catalyst in the attainment of sustainable living standard, prosperity, attitude, per capita income, saving, right decision for family matter, level of eternal satisfaction, social status among colleagues of same level

Identification of leaf rust resistant gene Lr10 in Pakistani wheat germplasm

Leaf (brown) rust is the major disease of wheat in Pakistan and other countries. The disease is more effectively controlled when several rust resistance genes are pyramided into a single line. Molecular survey was conducted to screen 25 Pakistan wheat germplasm for the presence of leaf rust resistance gene Lr10 using specific STS primer. The survey revealed that out of the 25 germplasm/lines grown in Hazara University Botanic garden, 18 genotypes were observed with Lr10 gene, while seven genotypes did not show the presence of Lr10 gene. The identification of Lr10 in Pakistan wheat germplasm will help in accelerating the breeding program in future, including the pyramiding of different resistant genes in wheat varieties.Key words: Wheat, leaf rust, Lr10, molecular markers

Incidence and Management of Dural Tears in Degenerative Spinal Surgery

Objects: The purpose of this study was to study the incidence, results and treatment of Dural Tears sustained during operation on lumbar spine for degenerative spine diseases in peripheral teaching hospital.Study Design: This was an observational descriptive study.Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in the Department of Neuro Surgery Saidu teaching Hospital swat from Jan 2007 to Dec: 2010. During this period a total of 305 patients underwent spinal surgery were included in our study. Preliminary preoperative imaging and preparation was performed in these patients.Results: A total of 305 patients including in this study. The male female ratio was 1:1.67% out of 305 patients primary surgery was performed in 238 patients while revisional surgery was perform in 67 cases. a total of 29 cases had dural tears, in 27 patients Dural tear was recognized preoperatively out of which 21 tears where repaired and 6 patients were treated conservatively. Conservative treatment was not successful in these 6 patients and they underwent Re exploration and repair. In 2 cases dural tears were diagnosed latter on due to CSF leakage in 1 case pseudomeningocele is 2nd cases conservative trial failed have both were reoperated for dural repair.Conclusion: Dural tears is more common in revisional surgery and all Dural Tears should be repair

Autologous Bone Graft vs PEEK Cage in Patients with Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy

Background:  Cervical spine stenosis is one of the most common degenerative changes of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) and results in severe dysfunction of the cervical spinal cord. The conventional treatment of such degenerative cervical spine conditions is anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Strut graft remains the gold standard in ACDF with excellent patient recovery but has many shortcomings. Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cages have recently become popular as a replacement for strut grafts in patients undergoing ACDF. Objective:  This study was carried out to compare the clinical and radiographic outcomes of autologous bone grafts versus PEEK cages in patients undergoing ACDF surgery. Materials and Methods:  It was a randomized controlled trial conducted at the Neurosurgery Department Punjab Institute of Neurosciences for three years. Patients who consented to be a part of this study and fulfilled our predefined inclusion criteria were recruited and randomized into 2 groups. One group underwent ACDF with auto bone graft whereas the other group underwent ACDF with PEEK cage. Results:  A total of 198 subjects were included in this study. The mean age was calculated as 47.60 ± 9.17 years in the PEEK cage group and 46.74 ± 8.87 years in the Autologous bone graft group. Males accounted for 59.6% of the study population.  The fusion rate was found to be higher in the PEEK cage group with a p-value of 0.002. Conclusion:  PEEK cages are superior to strut grafts as they have lesser morbidity after ACDF surgery in patients with CSM. &nbsp

Antihyperglycemic and hypolipidemic potential of Caesalpinia decapetala in alloxan-induced diabetic rabbits

The anti-hyperglycemic, anti-hyperlipidemic, kidney and hepatoprotective potential of Caesalpinia decapetala were evaluated in alloxan-induced diabetic rabbits. The plant extract showed concentration dependant significant (p<0.001) therapeutic potential in diabetic rabbits revealing improvement in lipid profile and liver and kidney functions. 300 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg oral extract were able to reduce average blood glucose levels from 250.6 mg/dL to 204.2 mg/dL and 188.2 mg/dL respectively during 14 days period, in comparison to 183.8 mg/dL of glibenclamide. There was no significant synergistic effect found, upon co-administration of both drug and extract representing the competitive binding to sulphonyl urea (SUR1), revealing possible mechanism of action for compounds in extract. Extract was found to be nephroprotective, hepatoprotective and improved lipid profile of alloxan-treated rabbits

Surgical Outcome of Spontaneous Intracebellar Haemorrhage

Introduction: The management of spontaneous intracerebellar hemorrhage has always been a challenge for neurosurgeons and neurophysicians. So far, neither medical nor surgical intervention has been shown consis-tently to improve the outcome. In this study, we described our experience of surgery for the treatment of sponta-neous cerebellar haemorrhage.Objective: To determine the frequency of good outcome of surgical evacuation of intracerebellar hematoma.Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive prospective study conducted at the department of Neurosurgery PGMI / Lahore General Hospital Lahore. Duration of study was 1 year from 6th August 2010 to 6th August 2011. This study included 75 patients with spontaneous intracerebellar haemorrhage that underwent surgical treatment. Patients were followed for 30 days to see the frequency of good outcome.Results: The mean age of the patients was 60.60, SD 9.43 years (range 43 – 77). There were 15 (20%) patients of age range of 40 – 50 years, 19 (25.3%) patients of age range of 51 – 60 years, 33 (44%) patients of age range of 61 – 70 years, and 08 (10.7%) patients in the age range of 71 – 80 years). There were 51 (68%) male patients and 24 (32 %) female patient in the study. There were 33 (44%) patients who showed good outcome after surgical treatment of spontaneous intracerebellar haemorrhage.Conclusions: Surgery for spontaneous intracerebellar hemorrhage holds good outcome and should be conside-red for intracerebellar hemorrhage

Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion in Degenerative Lumbar Spine Disease and Risk of Adjacent Segment Disease

Objective:&nbsp;&nbsp;To determine the chances of adjacent segment disease (ASD) and risk factors after posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF). Material and Methods:&nbsp;110 patients of both genders with degenerative lumbar instability at L4/5 level were included in my study. We did PLIF in all our patients and followed our patients for one year. The following parameters were measured: the degree of lumbar lordosis, the degree lumbosacral angle, the disc space height and their dynamic angulation and the displacement of L3 over L4. We checked the outcome with the help of the Japanese orthopedic association (JOA) and Oswestry disability index (ODI). We divided the patients into groups A and B; group A includes patients with progression of degeneration at the proximal level (L3-L4), while group B with no progression of disease at proximal level. Results:&nbsp;&nbsp;The 86 patients (78.18%) were in group A, and 24 patients (21.88%) were in group B. There were no significant difference in radiological parameters of both groups; lumbosacral angle of lordosis, L3 laminar inclination angle, preoperative degenerative changes at proximal level, L4–L5 lordosis and BMD before surgery. The clinically and statistically significant differenceswere of the age of the patients falling in two groups. We found that at the completion of study ODI and JOA were not significantly different in both groups (P &gt;0.05). Conclusion:&nbsp;&nbsp;Degenerative lumbar disease is an age related disease with no significant effect of radiological degenerations on the final outcome of our patients.No other possible risk factor has a significant effect on outcome