ISLAMABAD: Healthcare practitioners warn that participants of the sit-ins are not only vulnerable to serious health problems, but also likely to suffer from psychological trauma from the uncertainty that they have been living under for the last 42 days.

Professor of Medicine, Dr Javed Akram, while talking to Dawn, said that living under uncertainty affects people negatively, and the participants of the sit-in may be affected with severe psychological trauma.

`Every second day they get a deadline and start believing that the sit-in will be over soon, only to have their hopes crushed again,` he said.

`Children at the sit-ins will have the worst affect on their mental health, because they need the stability of a home. No place can replace that. Right now, the participants of the sitins are living like internally displaced people,` Dr Akram said.

Gastroenterologist Dr Waseem Khawaja said that participants have been living in the Red Zone without proper shelter or toilets and have not been eating a balanced diet. Women, children and seniors are most vulnerable to allergies and infectious diseases while none of the participants are able to rest properly, which makes them prone to viruses.

The air quality in the Red Zone is also becoming poorer by the day. The intensity of the situation can be gauged by the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief, Dr Tahirul Qadri`s reaction upon stepping out of his container on Thursday.

PAT media coordinator Ghulam Ali, while talking to Dawn, said that Dr Qadri had been ill and running a fever over the last few days.

`Doctors suggested that Dr Qadri should walk in the fresh air because he spends most of his time in a container. So the PAT chief decided to visit the camps and encourage supporters who have been here for over a month,` he said. In reply to a question, Mr Ali said that he was aware that the malodorous air was making it difficult for participants to sit there but workers and leader were all in this together, facing similar challenges.

`Our workers are determined and will not leave until Dr Qadri tells them to do so,` he said.