People sit on the ground as they wait to receive sacks of ration handouts from a distribution point of a charity, during a lockdown after Pakistan shut all markets, public places and discouraged large gatherings amid an outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Quetta. PHOTO: REUTERS
Rapid reaction teams formed in Quetta
People having symptoms of coronavirus can approach the teams through a call on rescue helpline 1122
QUETTA: Rapid Reaction Teams (RRTs) were formed in the provincial capital on Wednesday through combined efforts of Quetta district administration, People’s Primary Healthcare Initiative (PPHI), Medical Emergency Response Centre (MERC) and Quetta district health officer in order to handle coronavirus patients in the city.
The teams will work in three shifts and 24 hours a day. They will comprise eight mobile teams, including ambulances and motorcycle teams, while 12 teams will be static at Basic Health Units. Motorcycle teams would be utilised to approach patients where ambulances could not reach.
People having symptoms of coronavirus can approach the teams through a call on rescue helpline 1122. The operator would direct the suspected patient to a doctor or inform a mobile RRT to approach him, according to the situation.
If mobile Rapid Response Teams are busy facilitating other patients, the operator will direct the patient to the nearest static RRT available at the nearest Basic Health Unit.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 2nd, 2020.
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