Balochistan govt to set up container hospitals in province

Facility to be equipped with isolation wards

QUETTA: Following the directives of the chief minister, Balochistan government has decided to establish container hospitals and relief and emergency centres in order to curb the spread of coronavirus.

According to sources, the container hospitals would be equipped with modern health facilities – including isolation ward and operation theatres – while separate residence facilities would also be set up for doctors and paramedics staff.

The development came in the wake of rising infected cases in the province that jump to 138, with five new cases being reported on Saturday. With such facilities, the provincial government is planning to stem further spread of the virus and ensure the provision of quality healthcare facilities for patients.

In the first phase, as per sources, around 1,500 containers available with the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) would be utilised for the establishment of container hospitals.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Jam Kamal suspended in-charge of the provincial Medical Store Department (MSD) over hoarding surgical masks and kits.

As per government spokesperson, the CM suspended MSD Director and In-Charge Zulfiqar Ali Baloch because of his “negligence” in performing his duty and “not providing surgical masks and kits to the health staff” performing duties in isolation wards.

“Despite having a large number of masks and kits, [MSD in-charge] Zulfiqar deliberately hoarded them and didn’t provide it to the staff who was performing duties in isolation wards established to treat corona patients at the Sheikh Zayed and the Fatima Jinnah Chest hospitals,” Balochistan government spokesman Liaquat Shahwani said. He added that notification of his dismissal was issued on Saturday.

He further said the chief minister has vowed to take action against “black sheeps in health department” who are involved in destroying the health sector.

“The provincial government has constituted an inquiry committee, which would submit its report following further illicit practices in the health department,” Shahwani added.

The other day, CM Kamal told the newly formed National Coordination Committee (NCC) on coronavirus that the provincial government needs the federal government’s support for ventilators and testing kits as well as other essential medical equipment.

Due to the lack of production of food items in Balochistan, the province relies on the arrival of these commodities from Sindh and Punjab. Therefore an effective mechanism is needed to maintain the food chain and transportation of petrol,” he said while speaking through a video conference.

“After closure of Iran border in Makran and Rakhshan divisions, there is a need to continue supply of oil and other commodities in these areas,” the chief minister said.

He said special medical measures are needed in view of the outbreak of malaria and other diseases due to the arrival of summer. “We also need to end load shedding during the lockdown and during the month of Ramazan,” he said.

The prime minister agreed with the chief minister’s proposal and assured him that the federal government would cooperate in this regard. 

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