Door-to-door virus testing collapses in Karachi South district
More than 1,500 samples collected through the service have been frozen, creating a huge backlog for tests
PHOTO:REUTERS
KARACHI:
Given the rapidly rising number of Covid-19 cases, the provincial government’s attempt to conduct door-to-door tests for the virus in the Karachi’s South district has almost collapsed as officials are now refusing to entertain new suspected patients, The Express Tribune has learnt.
Sources privy to the matter said around 25 health department staff members deputed in the South district to deal with the coronavirus situation have been tested positive, therefore, door-to-door testing has been temporarily halted.
"My mother was showing symptoms of the virus, so we called the government’s coronavirus helpline numbers to avail the home-testing facility. However, we were told that the service has been suspended. They then asked us to visit Jinnah hospital,” a resident of Saddar town said.
A senior official working for the South district health office (DHO) said that more than 1,500 samples collected through the door-to-door testing service have been frozen because two polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machines at a private hospital have developed a fault.
“I can’t disclose the names of the said private hospital, but the machine was out of order for three days because of which we have been left with a huge backlog. At the moment, we are under immense pressure because the results of the tests conducted ten days ago are yet to be declared and people are repeatedly complaining against us," the officer said.
The South district, which included posh areas like the cantonment and the Defence Housing Authority (DHA), has been declared a red zone for coronavirus cases.
'Help the government save its life and the lives of others'
A politician, who chose not to be named, said his family members have been showing Covid-19 symptoms but when he called the health office, he was told that the door-to-door testing system has been exhausted.
“They told us to visit a hospital or a laboratory for the purpose. But when we approached the Aga Khan Hospital, they said they are not conducting tests for Covid-19 either. Where should we go for testing now?” the politician questioned.
Per official statistics, the total number of Covid-19 positive cases in Sindh stands at 41,303 as of the writing of this article, along with 696 deaths. According to health department figures, around 6,705 people have so far been tested positive in the South district alone.
It is not only ordinary citizens who have been facing the issue, but the political elite is not spared either. Last week, the Sindh Assembly arranged coronavirus tests for its members but even after nine days, the results have not been released. Speaking on the issue, Sindh Assembly Secretary GM Farooq said that his team has been contacting the South DHO for the results of the tests for the past week but there has been no positive response.
“We are now planning to rearrange the tests because we can’t wait for the results any longer,” he said.
When approached, the South district health officer refused to speak on this issue, while Sindh health minister Dr Azra Pechuho and the secretary of the department did not respond to calls. The spokesperson for the health department, however, said that some minor issue has occurred due to the workload.
"With the sudden rise in cases along with deaths, many people have become paranoid and are rushing to get themselves tested. We receive hundreds of calls every day,” he said. “If people are experiencing symptoms, they should go to the Jinnah Hospital and other nearby hospitals for the test.”
He said that the provincial government, in collaboration with the Indus Hospital, has also launched a drive-through screening and testing facility for coronavirus at the Jehangir Kothari Parade in Clifton.
“It is a free-of-charge facility. People can call 021-9920-3012 to get an appointment and then visit the facility,” he added. "We are enhancing our capacity by establishing five more hospitals with test facilities," he said.
Given the rapidly rising number of Covid-19 cases, the provincial government’s attempt to conduct door-to-door tests for the virus in the Karachi’s South district has almost collapsed as officials are now refusing to entertain new suspected patients, The Express Tribune has learnt.
Sources privy to the matter said around 25 health department staff members deputed in the South district to deal with the coronavirus situation have been tested positive, therefore, door-to-door testing has been temporarily halted.
"My mother was showing symptoms of the virus, so we called the government’s coronavirus helpline numbers to avail the home-testing facility. However, we were told that the service has been suspended. They then asked us to visit Jinnah hospital,” a resident of Saddar town said.
A senior official working for the South district health office (DHO) said that more than 1,500 samples collected through the door-to-door testing service have been frozen because two polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machines at a private hospital have developed a fault.
“I can’t disclose the names of the said private hospital, but the machine was out of order for three days because of which we have been left with a huge backlog. At the moment, we are under immense pressure because the results of the tests conducted ten days ago are yet to be declared and people are repeatedly complaining against us," the officer said.
The South district, which included posh areas like the cantonment and the Defence Housing Authority (DHA), has been declared a red zone for coronavirus cases.
'Help the government save its life and the lives of others'
A politician, who chose not to be named, said his family members have been showing Covid-19 symptoms but when he called the health office, he was told that the door-to-door testing system has been exhausted.
“They told us to visit a hospital or a laboratory for the purpose. But when we approached the Aga Khan Hospital, they said they are not conducting tests for Covid-19 either. Where should we go for testing now?” the politician questioned.
Per official statistics, the total number of Covid-19 positive cases in Sindh stands at 41,303 as of the writing of this article, along with 696 deaths. According to health department figures, around 6,705 people have so far been tested positive in the South district alone.
It is not only ordinary citizens who have been facing the issue, but the political elite is not spared either. Last week, the Sindh Assembly arranged coronavirus tests for its members but even after nine days, the results have not been released. Speaking on the issue, Sindh Assembly Secretary GM Farooq said that his team has been contacting the South DHO for the results of the tests for the past week but there has been no positive response.
“We are now planning to rearrange the tests because we can’t wait for the results any longer,” he said.
When approached, the South district health officer refused to speak on this issue, while Sindh health minister Dr Azra Pechuho and the secretary of the department did not respond to calls. The spokesperson for the health department, however, said that some minor issue has occurred due to the workload.
"With the sudden rise in cases along with deaths, many people have become paranoid and are rushing to get themselves tested. We receive hundreds of calls every day,” he said. “If people are experiencing symptoms, they should go to the Jinnah Hospital and other nearby hospitals for the test.”
He said that the provincial government, in collaboration with the Indus Hospital, has also launched a drive-through screening and testing facility for coronavirus at the Jehangir Kothari Parade in Clifton.
“It is a free-of-charge facility. People can call 021-9920-3012 to get an appointment and then visit the facility,” he added. "We are enhancing our capacity by establishing five more hospitals with test facilities," he said.