KARACHI:
When the Covid-19 pandemic first emerged, Chief Minister of Sindh Murad Ali Shah performed exceptionally well in handling the pandemic as compared to other chief ministers. He rigorously imposed SOPs and even enforced unpopular measures like announcing strategic, short-period curfews to prevent large congregations and gatherings in order to control the spread of the virus.
Currently, we are witnessing a surge in Covid-19 cases owing to the Omicron variant. According to scientists, Omicron is by far the fastest spreading variant as a record number of cases are being reported in several countries around the world. The variant is not even sparing those that are fully vaccinated. However, vaccinations are preventing severe symptoms and hospitalisations.
During a time like this when mass vaccination has acquired great significance, it is shocking to learn that the vaccination facility at Expo centre had closed down a few days because of a strike by health workers who had allegedly not been paid their salaries for the past nine months. The facility is one of the largest vaccination centres in Karachi and is visited by hundreds of people daily. This sudden halt was a serious and almost criminal lapse, and is simply unacceptable. Even though the issue has been resolved, the Sindh government should make sure that such instances should never happen again.
SRH Hashmi
Karachi
Published in The Express Tribune, February 1st, 2022.
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