Sensible step

The Edhi Foundation has made a sensible decision to temporarily close down all its nine morgues and 50 facilities across the country to wash dead bodies, in view of the rising cases of coronavirus patients and fatalities. The decision has been taken because of the highly contagious nature of the disease. In Pakistan, so far 11 deaths have occurred and there are 1,363 confirmed cases. Worldwide there are 586,140 cases and 26,865 people have died. Infection and deaths have been reported from all continents. No one knows when the situation will return to normal. Now China is the only country where the situation is well under control.

Considering the infectious nature of the virus, the Sindh police have asked senior district police officials to devise standard operating procedures for burial of those dying from coronavirus. They have been instructed to coordinate with other high officials of the district administrations. SSPs and SPs will identify routes for shifting bodies to cemeteries, graveyards for burials and to prepare a list of staff to be assigned the task of supervising burials. They have also been asked to prepare lists to include the names of grave-diggers, details about the cemeteries selected for the purpose of burials, and other relevant details. SOPs for burials should be in line with the guidelines set by the federal ministry of health.

The administration will also take religious scholars on board. Religious scholars are playing a significant role in impressing upon the people the need to take all possible precautionary measures to protect themselves, their families and society as a whole from the deadly virus. There is no cure for coronavirus, so prevention assumes paramount importance. Given the widespread ignorance prevailing in our society, the government needs to redouble its efforts to convince the common people to take preventive steps with regard to Covid-19. Now the priority is to save lives. This is no time to exploit the situation for selfish ends.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 29^th, 2020.

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