Quarantine centre plans spark backlash in Hyderabad, Jamshoro

The Sindh government has selected three hospitals, three hotels and a SU hostel to be used as quarantine facilities

HYDERABAD: The Sindh government’s plans to set up coronavirus quarantine centres in health, educational and hotel facilities in Hyderabad and Jamshoro has sparked a backlash among citizens, with many expressing their outrage through protests and social media posts.

On Tuesday, the Hyderabad district administration had added three private hospitals and as many hotels to the list of quarantine centres, while in Jamshoro, a Sindh University (SU) hostel was declared a quarantine facility.

Residents from near Memon Hospital – one of those selected – demanded that the government immediately withdraw its decision, pointing out that it is located in a densely populated area in the city’s downtown area.

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“We are already deprived of cleanliness and sanitation facilities. Shifting infected patients here will cause the virus to spread like wildfire,” insisted Muhammad Kamran, one of the protesters.

So far, among the hospitals on the list, health officials have only shifted suspected patients to Rajputana Hospital, near Hyderabad Bypass and in close proximity to two housing societies. At least 70 suspected patients were moved there from Noor Mosque in Wahdat Colony, but 21 of these, who later tested positive, were then transferred to Kohsar Government Hospital, in Latifabad.

The three selected hotels – Indus, City Gate and Crown Hotels – are also surrounded by populated areas.

An unwise decision?

Human Rights Commission of Pakistan regional coordinator Imdad Chandi expressed concern about what he termed the “unwise decision” of Hyderabad deputy commissioner (DC) Ayesha Abro, while advocate Ayatulah Khuwaja called it a “condemnable act on part of the district administration.”

Meanwhile, Pakistan Medical Association’s Dr Pir Manzoor said the medical body had strongly recommended that the quarantine centres be established away from residential areas.

Hyderabad citizens have previously lambasted Abro for what they perceive as wrong decisions made by her, while also holding her responsible for the somewhat lax lockdown enforcement in the city. In fact, a campaign recently kicked off on social media demanding that she be replaced as DC.

However, MPA Sharjeel Memon, the district focal person for coronavirus, defended the selection.

“Tough decisions are taken at tough times. Hospitals have also been turned into quarantine facilities in Karachi,” he argued while talking to The Express Tribune. Contending that the virus could not spread in the locality around a quarantine centre, he flatly denied that the decision was being reconsidered.

Vehement opposition

Another facility contentiously declared a quarantine centre is SU’s Zulfikar Ali Bhutto hostel, which is only to house asymptomatic persons.

On Tuesday, the district administration shifted 11 members of a Tableeghi group to the hostel, where they are to be quarantined for 14 days.

“[The hostel] is available with the facility of attached washroom and can serve as a facility for the quarantine,” reads a letter written by Jamshoro DC Capt (r) Fariduddin Mustafa to the varsity’s registrar.

However, students, teachers and members of civil society have vehemently opposed the move, demanding that the hostel be vacated immediately.

“The Sindh government’s notification clearly directed the district administrations to declare Tableeghi centres as quarantine [facilities]. The vice chancellor should immediately approach the DC to shift the people from the hostel,” insisted Dr Arfana Mallah, of the Sindh University Teachers Association.

Jami Chandio, a writer and intellectual, added that providing accommodation to those affected by the virus at the hostel was a “dangerous” decision.

However, Mustafa told The Express Tribune that the administration had selected an “abandoned hostel” to house only the 11 asymptomatic persons, adding that they would not shift any symptomatic or positive cases there. “None of the 11 persons are symptomatic or have a history of contact with any confirmed patients,” he maintained, adding that they had not stayed at any seminary but had been in the villages in Kirthar.

According to him, the administration had arranged 700 beds for suspected – symptomatic – patients in the Labour Colony flats in Kotri and Nooriabad.

“For positive patients, 192 beds have been arranged in government hospitals in Jamshoro, but we plan not only to increase the beds to 300 but also to centralise the quarantine centre at TB hospital in Kotri,” he added.