Medics warn of strikes if masks not provided

Demand shuhda package for healthcare providers if they die of COVID-19

RAWALPINDI/ ISLAMABAD: The medical and paramedical staff at the only government-run hospital in the federal capital with an isolation ward for the coronavirus patients, the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), have given a deadline to the government to provide them with safety gear otherwise they will go on a strike.

The Pims All Employees Restoration Movement Chairman Dr Asfandyar Khan said that doctors and paramedics are on the frontline in the fight against the highly contagious novel coronavirus (COVID-19) but they are working without the requisite personal protective equipment (PPE).

“Providing healthcare to patients having symptoms of coronavirus poses the threat of contracting the disease,” Dr Asfandyar said.

He complained that the government has not provided safety gear to staff in the hospital even though it is the only isolation ward in the federal capital.

“Going in battle unarmed is like committing suicide,” he said, asking how will medical practitioners look after patients if they were not safe.

Staff at Pims collected donations for purchasing face masks as they were not provided by the government, the representative of the movement said, adding that the government has placed put restrictions on multiple spots of mass gathering but there are still thousands of people who visit Pims every day with at least two-three attendants.

“Even if one of the visitors is infected, the entire healthcare facility will be at risk of a virus attack,” he contended.

The official announced that they may shut down the outpatient department (OPD) if they are not provided with safety gear by Monday.

He further suggested establishing a separate 300-bed hospital instead of establishing isolation wards in the hospitals as it was more dangerous.

Dr Asfandyar further urged the government to provide 100 ventilators at Pims immediately.

He also urged the government to announce shuhda (martyrs) package for medical practitioners deployed in isolation wards in case if any of them gets infected and dies of the virus.

Cantonments restrict shop timings

In neighbouring Rawalpindi, an awareness conference was organised by the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB).

The conference was attended by the RCB Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sibtain Raza, related officials as well as clerics who were seated at a distance with each other.

Rawalpindi Station Commander Brigadier Ijaz Qamar Kayani announced to shut down markets and other businesses in the cantonment jurisdiction by 10pm as a measure to cut down social interaction which would decrease the chances of the spread of the virus.

While addressing participants, Brig Kayani said they have completed treatment arrangements in the Cantonment General Hospital (CGH) as well as in all dispensaries. He emphasised that ulema, traders and civil society members have to play their role in sensitising the people against the virus and announced the suspension of holidays of the cleanliness staff.

On the occasion, CGH Focal Person Dr Asia Shehzad briefed that a 50-bed isolation ward has been established in the Rawalpindi CGH while the doctors and staff have been equipped with safety gear.

Price hike

After educational institutions, marriage halls, recreational places, people have started hoarding food at homes fearing a shutdown of grocery stores, greengrocers, dairy shops and bazaars in general.

Owing to this excessive buying, traders, reciting the centuries-old mantra of demand and supply have arbitrarily increased the prices of various commodities including fruits, vegetables, spices and meat.

The Merchant Association and the Anjuman-e-Tajiran Sabzi Mandi have given an application to the Rawalpindi district commissioner (DC) to call a meeting of the district price control committee for revising the prices that experienced a surge after the coronavirus outbreak in the country.

As per a survey conducted by The Express Tribune on Thursday, sugar was dearer by Rs3 per kilogramme (kg) and milk by Rs30 per litre.

The meat was being sold Rs100 above the official rate. The grocers and vendors have hinted further surge in the prices if the current situation prevailed in the coming days.

Police get sanitisers

The Rawalpindi police personnel have been provided with the face masks and gloves while sanitisers dispensers have been installed in the offices of the police high-ups too. However, the police stations, where public interaction was prominent, were still deprived of this facility.

Although public gatherings have been banned, police officers were still holding khulli kutcheris to hear public complaints with the only precaution of placing seats at a distant.

In efforts to maximise social distancing, the traffic police have shut down driving licence branches across the province and extended the expiry dates.

Cultural activities

Spring brings a host of activities in the federal capital. However, this year, the coronavirus threat has impacted almost all spheres of life and cultural activities in the twin cities too. Lok Virsa, PNCA, literature academies, art galleries have been shut down temporarily and look deserted, the arts and literary events grind to a halt.

Federal Minister for National History and Literary Heritage Shafqat Mehmood said that the government wanted to ensure public safety, therefore it has opted to shut down public places as much as possible.

The sombre atmosphere in spring has turned despair into courage. The Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA) former director general Jamal Shah urged the artist community and public to strictly abide by the guidelines issued by the government against highly contagious disease. He added that it was a test from nature. A renowned poet Iftikhar Ahmed declared it mandatory to implement the guidelines issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to prevent the coronavirus. Aftab Changezi, a prominent sculptor, expressed disappointment over the melancholy that the pandemic has caused all over the world. However, hoping amelioration in the current situation, he said the social and cultural activities will resume again as the situation gets better. He expressed that people need to fight the virus instead of being intimated by it.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 20^th, 2020.