-Asks doctors, paramedics to get ready for likely increase in virus cases
Bureau Report
PESHAWAR: Prime Minister Imran Khan here Friday said that federal government was providing all-out assistance to the provinces to control spread of Coronavirus pandemic.
The Prime Minister expressed these views during his visit to Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC) Peshawar where he was briefed about KP government’s relief efforts, arrangements for treatment of Coronavirus patients and measures adopted to contain spread of pandemic.
The prime minister assured that federal government’s support to all provinces would continue.
He directed Governor KP, Chief Minister Mahmood Khan and concerned ministers to visit the affected areas by themselves and ensure availability of facilities to the people at their doorsteps.
The Prime Minister briefed by Chief Secretary KP Dr Kazim Niaz was informed that provincial government has enforced Corona emergency on Fedruary 3.
It was further apprised to the PM that KP Governor, Chief Minister, Health Minister and other relevant authorities were monitoring the whole situation on daily basis. As many as 275 qurantine centers have been established with the accommodation capacity of 18,000 persons in the province.
The PM was further informed that KP Chief Minister has announced Rs32 billion relief package.
The PM was further told that 583 ventilators were available in KP and numbers were being increased. Some 638 regular and 1299 contractual doctors have been recruited in the province.
In addition to it, 9000 retired doctors, nurses and paramedics have voluntarily registered and can be called if required.
Similarly, 400 rapid response teams have been constituted to deal with the Coronavirous situation.
The capacity of Coronavirus testing was being increased and district administration has been empowered to facilitate people.
The Prime Minister appreciated the measures of KP Government and said that in the present situation, the government was concentrating to prevent Coronavirous along with providing relief to poor segment of the society.
The prime minister was accompanied by Governor KP Shah Farman , Chief Minister KP Mahmmod Khan, Federal Minister Asad Umar, Minister of State Shahryar Afridi and Special Assistant to PM on Social Protection and Poverty Allievation Dr Sania Nishtar and health minister KP Taimur Salim Jhagra.
Prime Minister Imran Khan Friday said the whole government machinery was out to support and protect medical community in the war against coronavirus and people from hunger.
Talking to media here after visiting Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC), he appreciated efforts of doctors, paramedics as frontline force in the war against infectious corona disease and assured provision of adequate safety gadgets from the government on priority basis.
The PM prophesied an increasing trend in future COVID-19 cases, saying, great responsibility rested on doctors and paramedics to be ready for the impact. He said NDMA team was currently procuring safety equipments, ventilators from China and other countries,from wherever available, for the medical community.
Expressing concern about shortage of things in the markets, he said the government was making efforts to ensure availability of safety gadgets and other necessary medical equipments. The entire government machinery and nation stand with medical community and would provide them all kinds of supports, he stressed.
The Premier said the government was committed to protecting the poor people from starvation and effective measures were being taken in this regard.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister was briefed about the latest situation of the corona cases in the province and the steps taken by the provincial government in the wake of pandemic.
Later, the Prime Minister distributed cash among destitute at Ehsas payment point where Special Assistant to the PM Sania Nishtar briefed him about the arrangements.
KP Governor Shah Farman, Chief Minister Mehmood Khan, Federal Minister Asad Omar, Advisor to KP Chief Minister Ajmal Wazir were present on the occasion.
