CM orders isolation wards to contain mpox

Chief Minister Balochistan Abdul Quddus Bizenjo on Thursday directed the health department to set up isolation wards in all government-run hospitals to contain the possible spread of mpox – a viral zoonotic disease.

“The Isolation wards with 5 to 10 beds should be established at a separate location from hospitals,” the chief minister ordered the health authorities. "Isolation wards should be set up at Bolan Medical Complex, Civil Hospital, Shaikh Zayed, Mufti Mehmood Memorial Hospital and Fatima Jinnah Hospital," he urged.

CM Bizenjo also called upon the authorities to provide necessary medical equipment and other items including hygiene kits to cope with the possible mpox threat. In compliance with the CM directives, the provincial health department has issued an alert. Balochistan health director general has directed all government hospitals of the province to set up the isolation wards, a letter written to the heads of the hospitals by health DG read.

He directed that all possible measures should be taken in view of possible cases in all hospitals. "The instructions of the health department should be implemented on a priority basis," the letter further read.