President stresses care to contain virus

Bureau Report

PESHAWAR: President Dr. Arif Alvi on Friday underlined the need to make collective efforts for taking precautionary measures to contain outbreak of Coronavirus virus which had crept into more than 51 countries of the world.
Addressing the 36th International Gastroenterology Conference organized by Pakistan Society of Gastroenterology KP Chapter, he said multiple segments including doctors, and media could raise awareness and educate masses about precautionary measures against the corona virus.
He said prayer leaders could specifically use Minbars (pulpits) of mosques as social intervention in light of Islamic tenets which laid great emphasis on hygiene and cleanliness in the society. He said that there was no need to be panic since things were under control, adding the Ministry of Health had so far reported only two cases of corona virus.
He expressed the optimism that this particular crisis would subside with the passage of time as people would get educated and start adopting extra precautionary measures.
He recalled that heatstroke in Karachi few years did claim several lives in the first very year and the issue became less severe after people took extra precautionary measures.
He said that social etiquettes like covering mouth with hands or protective mask while coughing was already imbibed in the culture.