PIMS, Polyclinic prepare isolation wards

Sale of face masks soars in the federal capital

ISLAMABAD: With reports of six suspected Novel Coronavirus patients in Pakistan surfacing so far, the government has started making preparations to contain the deadly disease in case of an outbreak.

As part of precautionary measures, the government has decided to establish an emergency operation centre, while all the airports across the country have been alerted to examine passengers landing from China or even those who have visited the oriental state at any time during the past two weeks.

Subsequently, the government has decided to set up quarantine wards in public hospitals across the country as part of the precautionary measures against the deadly virus.

In this regard, the biggest tertiary care hospital of Islamabad, the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) has also set aside 10 beds to set up an isolation ward.

Pims Spokesperson Dr Waseem Khwaja on Friday said that their isolation ward is ready to accept patients possibly affected by the virus.

The number of beds in the ward could be increased if deemed necessary, he said.

Dr Khwaja further said that the quarantine ward will have a separate entrance so that no other patient from any other ward can enter it and risk infection. The official asserted that to cope up with any emergency, the special ward has been equipped with the latest medical equipment while all protective arrangements have also been made.

He added that the healthcare facility has also formed a special medical team with a focal person to deal with patients.

Meanwhile, the second-largest tertiary care hospital in the city, the Federal Government Polyclinic Hospital is also busy preparing for any possible cases of Coronavirus.

Polyclinic Spokesperson Dr Sharaf Astori told The Express Tribune that an outpatient department (OPD) and a quarantine ward is being prepared in an area located adjacent to the main hospital so that affected patients can be segregated from other patients. He added that Dr Rizwan has been appointed as the focal person for the ward whereas a medical and paramedical team has been formed to deal with Coronavirus cases.

The spokesperson said that all protective measures, as well as procurement of requisite medical equipment, would be ensured for the quarantine ward.

The Benazir Bhutto Hospital in Rawalpindi has also taken precautionary measures against the plague and has dedicated a team with the necessary equipment.

Traders hike mask rate

True to their colours, traders in the federal capital have hiked the price of face masks as soon as sales ticked up on fears of the coronavirus outbreak, shoppers told The Express Tribune on Friday.

The simple face mask is essential for Islamabad’s residents during spring to avoid the pollen allergy and they sell for as low as five rupees apiece. However, as its demand rises, pharmacists and vendors start selling these masks at roadside kiosks at inflated prices arbitrarily, a market survey revealed.

The mask is considered a strong resistant against dust, pollen and other particles in the air which could create negative impacts on one’s health said allergy patient Adeel Mughal said.

The protective gear, which was normally available for Rs5 a few days ago, is now being sold for Rs10 instead. Citizens have expressed displeasure on the arbitrary hike in mask prices.

Another mask user, Wajid Satti, criticised this sudden hike in its price and expressed that besides controlling drug prices, the government should control prices of items that are widely used by the public.

This increase in the price of the mask just made of paper or cloth was unjustified, said Muhammad Hasan, and added that the government should distribute these masks free to the citizens.

Furthermore, Dr Waqar Ahmed suggested that wearing a face mask while being outside should be made compulsory for the citizens, adding that the people must be informed about its usefulness.

The doctor said that some 60 per cent of diseases related to nose and throat were caused by environmental pollution and the mask not only protected the face but also created positive impacts on a person’s health.

Meanwhile, the Islamabad Capital Territory Administration was planning different programmes in government and private institutions under its awareness campaign against coronavirus.

Quarantine ward in Swat

A meeting held at Saidu Group of Teaching Hospitals (SGTH), Swat, has decided to set up a 10-bed isolation ward at the health facility to accommodate coronavirus patients.

The meeting, held with District Health Officer (DHO) Dr Muhammad Akram Shah in the chair, discussed in detail the case of a suspected coronavirus patient.

DHO Shah briefed Prof Wasil Khan, Dr Momin Khan Dr Muhammad Khan, Dr Abdul Ahad, Dr Rahmat Ali, Dr Muhammad Rehman and SGTH focal person Roshan Ali about the public health protocols and case reporting for the novel coronavirus.

He advised the Medicine Department to prepare a clinical report of the suspected case so that it could be forwarded to provincial health authorities and National Institute of Health in Islamabad.

The DHO provided protective gear for the staff attending the suspected coronavirus patient in the hospital.

Besides establishing a 10-bed isolation ward, the meeting decided that the Department of Medicine will assign special duties to trainee medical officers, medical officers and consultants for the ward.

It was agreed that the office of the medical superintendent will provide the auxiliary staff.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 1^st, 2020.