ATH sets up Coronavirus isolation wards

Special instructions issued to staff in the accident, emergency and medicine departments to wear masks, gowns

ABBOTTABAD: In the wake of reports that some people may have been infected with the Coronavirus in Pakistan, the Ayub Teaching Hospital (ATH) in Abbottabad on Wednesday decided to set up an isolation ward as it issued other instructions to guard against the contagious disease.

In this regard, ATH Dean Professor Dr Umer Farooq and Medical Director Professor Dr Ahsan Aurangzeb called an emergency meeting with Medicine Department Head Professor Dr.Atiqur Rehman, Nursing Director Shamsul Huda, Accident and Emergency Department In-charge Dr Khurram, focal person Dr Imran Farooq and Media Manager Amber Javed on Wednesday to take preventive measures for the Coronavirus.

Dr Farooq said that providing better treatment to patients and protection to their health staff was their foremost priority and that they were ready to take all measures in this regard.

He further noted that an isolation ward has been set up for suspected coronavirus patients.

The meeting issued special instructions to staff in the accident, emergency and medicine departments to wear masks, gowns and use hand sanitizers after treating every patient. In this regard, the nursing director has been asked to educate the staff about the handling of suspected Coronavirus patients.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th, 2020.