APPNA's work with M*A*S*H

Pakistan faced its worst natural disaster on October 8, 2005 when a powerful earthquake, 7.6 on Richter scale, hit the northeastern part of the country, killing more than 80,000 people and rendering more than 3.5 million people homeless.
This tragic event moved the whole world and entire international community started to send in relief supplies and help. The U.S. Government mobilized its last 212th M*A*S*H (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) from Germany and sent it to Muzaffarabad on October 23rd to help with the relief efforts. It had 84 beds and staff of 200 people including our own APPNA Member and Pakistani American, Major (Dr.) Fareed Sheikh from US Air Force who offered his services due to his “jazba” to help the helpless, and because of his command of Urdu/Punjabi. He was sent to Pakistan with the US Army and was the incharge of both their ICUs.
Initially, he was the only physician who could communicate with the earthquake victims and was a bridge between them and his medical colleagues. Major Fareed Sheikh proved to be a good nidus and was joined by help from APPNA members where more than 75 people pledged to volunteer their medical services at MASH at one time or the other, varying from a few days to a week or more. This was highly appreciated by local community, MASH staff, and both by the Pakistani and American governments.
This help from APPNA consisted of internists, Family Practitioners, cardiologists, pulmonologists, orthopedic surgeons, general surgeons, ENT, cardiovascular and thoracic surgeons, plastic surgeons, pathologists, radiologists, pediatricians, psychiatrists, infectious diasease specialists, anesthesiologists, other specialists, social workers, residents, students and others.
They all went there to help their brethren in the hour of their medical need and to lessen their plight. They slept on cots in the tents, ate Meals ready to eat and sacrificed their personal comfort to please Allah and to show their love and dedication for the people of the land of their origin, Pakistan.

Father and Son Team: Dr Mushtaq Sheikh and Maj. Fareed Sheikh, both APPNA members attend to a victim of the Pakistan earthquake in ICU at the 212th M*A*S*H in Mozaffarabad, Kashmir, Pakistan. November 2005.

The help from APPNA came about with personal efforts of each and every member of the Social Welfare and Disaster Relief Committee of APPNA as well as APPNA executive committee. MASH was one of the best-organized health care facilities and was functioning according to the American standards. More than 20,000 patients were treated at MASH in Muzaffarabad. Most of them were outpatients. Initially, there were scores of admissions related to fractures, infected wounds, pneumonias and CHF, but later during their 4 months stay, the Outpatient got quite busy. This last MASH of $4.5 millions worth was handed over to Pakistani Military as a gift on February16, 2006 so that it would continue to serve quake stricken people of Pakistan and as a temporary CMH.