Staff shortage threatens response to handle new Covid variant

Two cases of JN-1 detected in inbound passengers at airport

KARACHI:

The emergence of two suspected cases of new variant of coronavirus JN-1 in Sindh has prompted the provincial health department to assess its preparedness to deal with a potential spread of the highly contiguous infection. Reports state that the health department is facing a possible disruption in its ability to handle the spread of the new variant due to a shortage of staff in health centres.

After the emergence of JN-1 variant in Pakistan’s neighbouring countries, medical teams have been conducting diagnostic tests on suspected passengers at Karachi airport. Six suspected passengers werentested at the airport over the  past few days, with two of them tested positive.

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Of the two confirmed cases, one arrived from Bangkok, and the other from Abu Dhabi. The 26-year-old from Kech, Balochistan, and the 53-year-old from Sanghar, residing in Qasimabad, Hyderabad, have been asked to quarantine atnhome. Meanwhile, PCR tests of two passengers from Sharjah and three from Jeddah have also returned positive.

However, a 60-year-old passenger from DG Khan, arriving from Jeddah, tested negative. Despite the Sindh HealthnDepartment issuing an advisory to prevent the possible spread of the JN-1 variant, the shortage of staff in government-run hospitals has hampered efforts to contain the spread of the virus. Moreover, there is a lack of available vaccines in health centres.

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Currently, there are approximately 2,500 vacancies in the JPMC, including doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, technical staff, and special staff. The Civil Hospital has 1,391 vacant posts ranging from Grades 1 to 20. The Sindh Government Hospital Saudabad has 70 to 80 vacant positions of doctors and around 100 vacant positions of nurses, paramedics, IT staff, sanitaryworkers, and ambulance drivers.

Professor Shahid Rasool, head of JPMC, expressed concern about the potential spread of the new coronavirus variant in Pakistan. He highlighted the adverse impact of the lack of essential staff on his hospital’s ability to combat the virus, emphasising that no recruitment has taken place in the last 12 years.

He urged the authorities to grant permission to recruit essential staff, noting that hiring 300 staffers could significantly improve the situation. According to the health department, the new variant exhibits symptoms such as cold, cough, and headache