Balochistan gets 44 vaccination centers

Senior citizens urged to register themselves at 1166 for inoculation programme

QUETTA:

Parliamentary Secretary for Health Dr Rubaba Buledi has announced that 44 vaccination centres for senior citizens have been established in Balochistan.

This decision was announced during an online National Command Operation Center (NCOC) meeting chaired by Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood to review the situation of the prevailing coronavirus. Dr Buledi, Balochistan Coronavirus Cell Head Dr Naqeeb Ullah Niazi and Dr Sarmad Khan, a representative of Southern Command represented the province of Balochistan in the meeting.

Dr Buledi relayed that the condition of Covid-19 in the province was under control but a slight increase in positive cases was witnessed after NCOC lifted a few restrictions three weeks ago.

She said that the people of Balochistan aged 60 and above can also get themselves registered for the vaccination programme by sending their national identity card number on 1166.

"At present, two patients of Covid-19 are undergoing treatment in the hospital and their condition is normal," Dr Buledi said, adding that the condition of coronavirus in the educational institutions of the province is not serious.

The parliamentary secretary for health informed NCOC that educational institutions will be monitored for two weeks and a targeted approach will be implemented incase coronavirus cases are detected. "However, strict implementation of standard operating procedures will continue."

The Covid-19 cell of the health department has been compiling data on a daily basis from day one and are keeping a close eye on the situation. "We can take the decision of smart lockdown on a limited level," Dr Buledi said.

She concluded that currently the number of patients in Balochistan is being recorded in single digits and there is no need to panic.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 12^th, 2021.