Pakistan takes preventive measures against COVID-19
by Fatima Javed
ISLAMABAD, Feb. 27 (China Economic Net) - Following the preventive safety measures by some major countries, to prevent the spread of COVID-19 after its outbreak in Wuhan, China, many others initiated similar steps. The coronavirus has spread to more than 34 countries within a month, inviting border closures and health emergencies declared by a number of countries. Pakistan therefore also takes various preventive measures against the coronavirus spread, and is seriously working for the protection of its citizens since the virus has effected its neighboring country Iran.
The Pakistani health authorities on Wednesday confirmed two positive cases of COVID-19 in the country. According to Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza, Government is in touch with both Chinese and Iranian authorities. After a great struggle they were successful in receiving medical kits to test for the novel coronavirus.
At present, the National Institute of Health (NIH) Islamabad and the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, the Agha Khan University Hospital (AKUH) have started analyzing samples for the novel coronavirus, and government would further activate more laboratories for this tests in other cities.
Meanwhile, the Baluchistan government has imposed emergency in the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) under the directives of Chief Minister Jam Kamal. An emergency center has also been set up at Taftan border crossing with Iran, with doctors posted to screen pilgrims coming from the neighboring country. The Baluchistan government has also stopped pilgrims from traveling to Iran via Taftan border.
Earlier the World Health Organization’s Representative in Pakistan Dr. Palitha Mahipala and his team visited the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) to discuss the medical management and isolation arrangements made by the hospital for potential importation of COVID-19. Dr. Palitha appreciated the role of National Institute of Health in making necessary arrangements for the prevention of coronavirus in Pakistan.
The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Civil Aviation Authority, has also established a system with thermos scans and thermal guns for screening of passengers, especially those coming from China and epidemic countries including Japan, Thailand and South Korea, in order to immediately isolate and transport them under strict protocols to quarantine facilities established in the nearest specified hospitals. Strong mechanism has also been put in place at all 18 entry points in the country to ensure proper screening of passengers traveling from other parts of the world.
In this regard, Punjab government has established High Dependency Units (HDUs) at five teaching hospitals linked to international airports. Thermo scanners have been provided to well-trained health staff at major airports in Karachi, Lahore, Quetta and Islamabad to screen all passengers, and a special dedicated team is assigned for screening passengers arriving via flights from China and Iran.
Pakistani government has taken immediate effective series of precautionary measures as per the guidelines of the World Health Organization to stay safe from this virus. But the Government should further work on adopting that kind of strategy which has been adopted by China to cope with coronavirus. Personal protective equipment including masks, overalls and other material should be made available to general public in the local pharmacies across the country.
（Editor:刘其瑜）
