PCR Test Centre, sampling booths inaugurated
PHOTO: REUTERS
Special Assistant to CM Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) on Information Barrister Saif Wednesday inaugurated Covid-19 PCR Test Centre and sampling booths at Khyber Medical University (KMU).
The vice-chancellor KMU Professor Dr Ziaul Haq, Director KMU Public Health Reference Lab (PHRL) Dr Yasir Yousafzai, Director Institute of Pathology and Diagnostic Medicine Dr Asif Ali, and other officials were also present on the occasion.
Talking to the media after the inauguration, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif said that the rapid rise in the Corona rate is a major challenge for all of us and the provincial government is taking all possible steps to address this challenge.
He said that the services rendered by KMU-PHRL in connection with Corona tests are commendable and now the management of PCR tests within the university will not only help in reducing the rush regarding tests at hospitals but there will also be more secure and free diagnostic facilities available to the people at this center.
Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif said that we are proud of the public services that KMU is rendering in dealing with the Corona pandemic by establishing of Corona Vaccination Center and PHRL. He added that not only large scale vaccination is necessary to prevent a rapid increase in the rate of Coronavirus but also timely utilization of PCR test facilities could be helpful in this regard.
Earlier, vice-chancellor Dr Ziaul Haq while briefing the Special Assistant said that so far 1.12 million tests have been conducted in KMU-PHRL and 4,000-6,000 tests are being conducted here daily. He said that PHRL has been carrying out PCR tests since the beginning of the first wave of Covid 19 and during the last two years 20 Corona test labs have been set up in the province from DI Khan to Chitral.
He added that 13 of these labs have been set up in the public and seven in the private sector, adding that PHRL has a highly trained staff and in addition to different variants, genome sequencing facilities are also available here.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 27th, 2022.