Staff Reporter
Peshawar
To strengthen response of health sector to Covid-19 pandemic, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is supporting four public hospitals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and the merged areas by providing them with infection prevention and control material.
As part of the assistance, personal protective equipment, disinfection items and waste management material, among other medical items, have been handed over to the four hospitals – Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar and secondary health-care hospitals in Bajaur, Jamrud and Parachinar districts.
The supplies distributed for the health-care staff include 11,000 surgical masks, 2,000 N95 masks, 1,000 eye and face protection gear, 3,000 gowns, 175 kg chlorine, 50,000 pairs of gloves, medical equipment and daily medical consumables for the triage areas. Moreover, 100 pairs each of heavy-duty boots and gloves have been given for the support staff.
Infection prevention and control items including sanitizers and soaps, waste management items and cleaning material have been supplied as well.
The first phase of the distribution has been completed and the second is under way.
Dr Zohra Muhamdi, who manages the health programme of the ICRC in Pakistan, said, “Apart from the technical and material support, we are also working on sharing useful information with the health-care staff and the public to control the spread of COVID-19. At the same time, we need to extend all the support, compassion and kindness to the health-care workers who are the most exposed to the risk of infection and may not be able to stay in contact with their families.”
