NDMA responds to Sindh govt's claims of being left in the lurch

Spokesperson says Sindh has enough ventilators as per its current tally of Covid-19 patients

Responding to Sindh Information Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah's accusations that the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) did not provide a single ventilator or set up any laboratory for coronavirus patients in the province, the NDMA spokesperson provided a break down of all the medical equipment distributed to Sindh on Sunday.

The spokesperson said the NDMA provides relief to all provinces, including to the regions of Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

He claimed that Sindh had enough ventilators for the current number of Covid-19 patients, and that the NDMA too had provided it with 20 additional by-pipe ventilators.

The NDMA spokesperson further stated that the relief organisation has around 500 ventilators in its warehouse. "These ventilators are a strategic reserve, and will be handed over to provinces as per their needs," he added.

Providing a further breakdown, the NDMA spokesperson said 130,163 face masks, 32,392 N95 face masks and 203,840 KN95 masks were sent to Sindh.

In addition, 235,479 safety suits; 8,733 safety goggles; 242,792 gloves and 57,844 pairs of shoe covers were also provided.

Moreover, 94,201 surgical caps, 25,351 gowns and 9,448 face shields were also distributed.

The NDMA spokesperson further stated that Sindh was provided with four PCR machines and testing equipment, including 123,832 testing kits, 55,000 viral transport media (VTM) kits and 55,000 swab kits.

50,768 manuals and 8,000 auto-extraction kits were also included in the equipment.

The NDMA distributed two biosafety cabinets for storing the testing kits, 200 thermal guns, 30,000 biotech tubes, 9,000 bio-hazard bags, 1,020 body bags and 25,000 sanitiser bottles to Sindh.

The fifth consignment of goods includes 2,822 N95 masks, 3,136 D95 ICU masks and 48,384 K95 masks for Sindh.

In addition, 4,480 gowns, 4,256 surgical caps, 8,960 face shields, 16,890 pairs of gloves, 6,272 protective goggles and 6,275 bottles of sanitizers will also be distributed.

Sindh information had a day earlier stated that more than Sindh had 280 ventilators at present, while the provincial government had ordered 200 more on its own, half of which were to be delivered soon.

He had urged the federal ministers to focus on serving people in distress instead of making ‘baseless allegations’ against the Sindh government.