Province braces for coronavirus threat

To monitor flights from China as precaution, forms committee to meet challenge

QUETTA: The Balochistan Health Department has formed a technical committee consisting of fourteen members to meet the challenge posed by the expected coronavirus in the province.

According to a notification, the committee has been formed on the directives of Chief Minister Jam Kamal and will consist of the Director Public Health , the focal person for the influenza programme, the In-charge of the Malaria and Vector Borne Diseases Programme, the Technical Director Public Health Engineering Balochistan , Medical Superintendent (MS) FJGC Hospital , In-charge Provincial Disease Surveillance and Response Unit (PDSRU), Assistant Director Balochistan Health Education, Director CHE Balochistan, NPO World Health Organization (WHO) Balochistan, Immunization Officer United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Balochistan , Balochistan Livestock Department, and the District Health Information System (DHIS) Balochistan.

The terms of reference have also been finalized and state that the committee will work under the Balochistan Director of Public Health and will meet on a daily basis at the Provincial Disease Surveillance and Response Unit (PDSRU) to analyze the situation and implement the necessary measures.

The committee will also coordinate with the federal ministry and the National Institute of Health (NIH) for assistance and guidance regarding the corona virus outbreak.

It will assist in the establishment of an isolation ward for the coronavirus at the Fatima Jinnah Chest and General Hospital and will support the hospital’s Medical Superintendent (MS) in making all necessary arrangements including bed allotments, shifting of patients and training of medical staff..

The committee will also collect information and data about the corona virus and will establish a corona surveillance system.

It will also prepare an advisory, Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and case definition to be shared with all concerned, and will also prepare public messages of awareness.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 27^th, 2020.