Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on Thursday announced the formation of ten more tele-medicine centres across the province.
According to a statement issued on the matter by the Government of Punjab, the step has been taken to provide real-time and effective information and help on the global coronavirus pandemic and its effects.
Due to the large population in the province, the number of helpline desks is being increased to cater to a larger audience in a better manner. The Punjab governor will inaugurate the first of nine other tele-medicine centres today in Sialkot via video link.
Chief Minister Usman Buzdar inspected the quarantine centres set up in Sohdra area of Wazirabad tehsil in Gujranwala and Cadet College Jhelum. He inspected both the facilities and announced to set up field hospitals for coronavirus patients at divisional level in Punjab. Abundant resources have been provided for dealing with the pandemic and funds will also be provided on a priority basis in future for this purpose, he assured.
The CM asserted that a most transparent system has been devised to facilitate the daily wagers and government is standing with the masses in this hour of trial. He pointed out that 1000-bed field hospital has been installed at Expo Center, Lahore in a short period. Those who are doing politics over this pandemic are not loyal to the nation as it is the time to unite the people, he added. He reaffirmed that people will not be left alone adding that those who have done this, are now limited to the issuance of statements.
The CM was briefed that the quarantine centre of Muslims Hands Educational Complex Sohdra can accommodate 500 patients and necessary facilities have been arranged according to the devised SOPs. Similarly, one thousand beds have also been arranged in Gujrat for providing treatment facility to the affected people.
Around 11,000 inhabitants have been identified in Gujranwala through track trace tests and screening of 3933 is also conducted. Different facilities are being provided to 700 people who are confined to their residences through a street lockdown. Meanwhile, the expatriate families and those in contact with them are being regularly screened, the CM was further told.
The chief minister also inspected the 120-bed quarantine centre at Cadet College Jhelum where he was told that coronavirus has been confirmed in 28 patients in Jhelum. 1327 others, who came from abroad, were again screened. Arrangements have been made to keep 552 patients in isolation and this facility will be increased to 1022 beds.
Talking on this occasion, the CM told that screening of all the people coming from abroad has been ordered and geotagging of their residencies will also be done. Timely steps have been taken by the Punjab government to secure the lives of the citizens and this pandemic will be defeated through joint efforts, he added.
