Six more test positive for coronavirus in Balochistan

CM requests counterparts to arrange transport facility for pilgrims

QUETTA: The total number of coronavirus cases in Balochistan rose to 16 on Tuesday, confirmed Liaqat Shahwani, the spokesperson of Balochistan government. "All the patients are undergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Units of Sheikh Zayed Hospital."

On ther other hand, Chief Minister of Balochistan Jam Kamal Khan, while presiding over the coronavirus provincial cabinet meeting earlier, decided to request his counterparts to arrange transport facility for the coronavirus patients belonging to their respective provinces, who are currently being quarantined in Taftan camps.

He also constituted a high level committee under the leadership of chief secretary Balochistan Fazeel Asghar to monitor arrangements made to deal with the menace of coronavirus. This committee is supposed to meet every day and assess the coronavirus situation in the province before laying out standard operational procedure guidelines to the health department, provincial disaster management authority (PDMA), security institutions and various other government departments apart from reporting to CM Jaam on an everyday basis.

The aforementioned committee will consist of World Health Organisation representatives, Public health professionals, senior doctors, senior professors, representatives of young doctor association, senior civil officers, representatives of intelligence agencies and the Pakistan Army's southern command. It will also ensure proper usage of human resources and public funds in the wake of the corona pandamic.

Provincial ministers such as Mir Zahoor Buledi, Mir Zia Langov, Zamrak Khan Achakzai, Mir Saleem Khosa, Malik Naeem Baazai, Balochistan chief secretary, additional home secretary, senior board of revenue member, finance secretary, health secretary, communication secretary and DG PDMA had attended the meeting.

The meeting also decided that utilizing all necessary resources including the provision of facilities to pilgrims returning to Balochistan via Iran, conducting their urgent tests, establishment of isolation centers in hospitals and monitoring awareness campaigns in the public were met on an urgent basis.

It was decided that an effective strategy will be formulated and implemented immediately for the next three months in consultation with the public health department in light of the briefing given by WHO on the improvement of health services, strengthening emergency systems and surveillance measures. The health services system will be strengthened on a sustainable basis while all the basic health facilities will be ensured in the district hospitals and health centers of the province.

The meeting agreed to mobilize and make communities active to raise awareness and implementation of precautionary measures apart from SOP of visits, inspection and treatment of patients in all Quetta Government Hospitals and District Hospitals as well as supply of thermal guns to the hospitals.

Clear instructions were issued to the DIG Police Quetta, provincial Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners to improve security of the hospitals.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 18^th, 2020.