An app for the implementation of social distancing would also greatly help
KARACHI: In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and the threats it poses to our daily wagers and healthcare professionals, I have a few plausible suggestions. Firstly, the daily wagers, particularly the rickshaw and taxi drivers, can be given money to buy for grocery and medicines. Utility stores can easily provide rations to people at their doorsteps. Secondly, plastic booths can be set up at the OPDs of hospitals. These booths can act as a shield between doctors and patients, they can have rubber gloves built in just like in the incubators for children, for the purpose of examining patients and collecting samples. These booths can have microphones to communicate with patients. Lastly, doctors can provide online video consultation to patients so that the need for people to visit hospital is significantly reduced. With such measures the lockdown could continue providing livelihood to those that are affected while at the same time enforcing social distancing. An app for the implementation of social distancing would also greatly help. I urge the government to set up a fund so that the poor are able to sustain themselves during these hard times. It is time for philanthropists to help the needy.
Muhammad Ali Noor
Published in The Express Tribune, April 1st, 2020.
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