K-P govt releases Rs100m funds amid coronavirus scare

Health authorities say no COVID-19 case detected in province yet suspected woman patient admitted to isolation ward

PESHAWAR: In an effort to prevent the possible outbreak of the novel coronavirus in the province, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government has released Rs100 million to the health department.

The provincial health department has set up isolation wards at all district hospitals with a capacity of 983 beds both in public and private sector hospitals for treating coronavirus patients.

K-P Chief Minister Mahmood Khan chaired the meeting where the prevention measures against the coronavirus epidemic were discussed.

K-P health secretary informed that the provincial government has made all the necessary arrangements to deal with COVID-19 and standardised protocols have been issued to all the health service delivery departments to handle any possible case of coronavirus in the province.

The chief minister was informed that no confirmed case of coronavirus has been detected in the province so far but an emergency has been declared as precautionary measure.

The health secretary said that protocols for reporting and infection control have been developed and issued, while training of service providers on case management is underway. A control room has been established at provincial level for regular reporting and a laboratory for testing of the novel coronavirus has been made operational.

As part of the measures against the epidemic, the health secretary said that Rapid Response Units have been established in all the districts to deal with any emergency in an effective manner. The line departments and autonomous bodies have been instructed to plan and execute activities related to preparedness, prevention and control of COVID-19.

The meeting was informed that staff members and ambulances have been provided to ensure screening at the Bacha Khan International Airport in the provincial capital.

Additional staff and ambulance have been provided to ensure screening at Torkham border. The chief minister expressed satisfaction over the health department’s preparedness and directed the relevant authorities to further improve the preparedness level.

CM Mahmood said that though no case has been detected in the province but the provincial government is fully prepared to cope with any emergency situation.

The chief minister said “Though the situation at the moment is completed satisfactory but if need arises then the provincial government is ready to take all steps and utilise all available resources to protect people from the virus”.

He directed the relevant provincial departments to carry out a public health awareness campaign to educate public regarding coronavirus.

Provincial ministers Taimur Saleem Jhagra, Akbar Ayub, and Shukat Yousafzai attended the meeting.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 4^th, 2020.