CM Kamal forms team to review measures against COVID-19

Urges political, religious leaders to educate people about coronavirus

QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal has directed the Chief Minister Inspection Team (CMIT) to constitute a panel comprising members of all departments to monitor the measures in place to stop spread of novel coronavirus, COVID-19, in the province.

The CM issued this order while chairing a high-level meeting held on Friday to review steps being taken by his government to avert spread of the contagious disease.

Health Secretary Mudassir Waheed Malik and Special Health Secretary Tahir Abbasi apprised the participants of the meeting about the measures being taken to prevent the outbreak that originated in Wuhan city of China in December 2019.

“Screening of pilgrims and business community who entered Pakistan from Iran has commenced, while an emergency control room has been established at the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) office,” Malik said.

The number of coronavirus patients in Pakistan rose to four as authorities confirmed two more cases on Saturday. All the people contracted the disease during their pilgrimage to holy sites in Iran.

He said an emergency has been declared in areas sharing border with Iran and Afghanistan and isolation wards are being established in 10 sensitive districts including Taftan, Mashkail, Chedgi and Mand.

The Balochistan government has allocated Rs200 million to establish isolation wards at Pakistan-Iran border, while digital equipment is being acquired for the screening of suspected patients.

The meeting was informed that 10-bed isolation wards have been established at Quetta’s Fatima Jinnah Chest Hospital and Sheikh Zayed Hospital, while a functional laboratory has been set up in Quetta.

Thermal guns and 231 ambulances have also been made available in bordering districts with Iran and Afghanistan.  Kamal expressed satisfaction over the provincial government’s initiatives and directed the CMIT to constitute a team to monitor steps taken to counter COVID-19.

While forming an emergency response team headed by PDMA director general, the meeting agreed to strengthen contacts with the World Health Organisation (WHO).

“The concerned departments should tell the people that there is no need to panic if any individual is infected by coronavirus because the disease can be treated. The only thing that the patient needs is more care,” Kamal said.

He directed all commissioners to keep in touch with the health department and urged the political and religious leaders and tribal elders to educate the people about the precautionary measures to be taken against the disease.

The meeting was attended by Provincial Minister for Finance Zahoor Buledi, Home Additional Chief Secretary Hafiz Abdul Basit, CMIT Chairman Sajjad Ahmed Bhutta, Balochistan IG Police Mohsin Hassan Butt, Finance Secretary Noorul Haq Baloch, Southern Command Director Health Services Brigadier Zulqarnain, PDMA DG Imran Zarkoon and superintendents of government hospital.

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