Ms Deeba Shahnaz
THE Rescue Service performing frontline duties like shifting of suspected and confirmed Corona patients from houses to hospital, hospital to quarantine, quarantine to isolation centers or hospitals, disinfection of public places and corona suspected burials during COVID-19 pandemic in the country. Rescue Service have also been entrusted for ration pack distribution to deserving people during lockdown situation.
In Pakistan, first case of COVID-19 was appeared on 26th February, 2020 in Karachi and on 24th March, 2020 lockdown started in the country and now smart lockdown is continued. Up till now total 417 deaths are reported due to COVID-19. Rescue Service alone shifted 6640 corona suspected patients and 173 Corona suspected burials were performed by Rescue Service across Punjab.
The Pakistan Rescue Team (PRT) of Emergency Services Academy first UN Classified Team in South Asia immediately organized specialized Corona Emergency Response Training for the rescuers of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhaw and Baluchistan at Emergency Services Academy to combat this situation in more professional manner.
The special videos, emergency response and safety instructions with reference to use of complete Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), emergency response, disinfection of the emergency vehicles, equipment and proper disposal of used PPE were developed through consultative process and issued to all districts of Punjab to be followed while responding to COVID-19 emergencies. Pakistan Rescue Team (PRT) of Emergency Services Academy also took responsibility of managing Lahore Expo Triage Center established by Government of Punjab to deal with daily influx of patients with routine and COVID- 19 complaints.
The Rescue Team is involved from information and screening desk to shifting of patients and decontamination of ambulances, area and personnel. A dedicated Corona Rescue Helpline 1190 was launched by Governor Punjab at Rescue Headquarters on 21st March 2020 to ensure 24/7 guidance, register and immediate assistance to COVID-19 related emergencies by Rescue Teams in Punjab. Initially, people with routine cough, fever, were calling to seek guidance. Interesting part was that people were also providing information about the person with recent travel history in their area.
During first three weeks, on Corona Rescue Helpline 1190 thousands calls were received but out of them, approximately 300 people were required to be shifted to hospital. The data revealed that people have fear about this pandemic and they are discussing and reporting on Helpline to get relief. The single ration request was not received in fear of Corona emergency since its inception 21st March to 12th April 2020.
Rescue Service was entrusted for ration packs distribution collected under the umbrella of Pakistan Development Network by Ch. Muhammad Sarwar Governor of the Punjab. As this activity was started in Lahore, the pattern of calls at Corona Rescue Helpline 1190 got completely changed. It was found a paradigm shift from corona medical/ information seeking calls to ration requests. Rescue Service has received 17786 Ration request and now no one is calling to get medical advice but were requesting for provision of Ration packs. People are more concerned about the provision of foods instead of medical advice related to COVID-19.
Since its inception 21st March 2020 to till date total 23530 calls have been received on dedicated Corona Helpline and from 12th April 2020 total 17786 Ration request have been received. The remaining calls include Corona medical calls, corona testing queries and complaints, suspected corona patient information, public gathering campaigns, telemedicine helpline connectivity complaints, disinfection requests, and shifting requests.
Although, Rescue Service facilitated the process of PDN for Ration distribution and distributed Total 42079 Ration Packs to deserving people of Lahore and Rawalpindi during COVID-19 emergencies. Keeping in view the increasing number of ration request, DG Rescue also requested public who can afford and support to others to take care of at least one family during Ramdan to cope up the situation as it is our religious obligation to take care of neighbors or relatives. Rescue service under the committed management to serve humanity is always there to help public but such increased ration need can be managed with help of each. May Allah save all humanity from this pandemic, and give us courage to support each other in this difficult time, Ameen.
—The writer is serving as Community Safety and Information at Rescue-1122 Punjab and can be reached at [email protected]
