Dr Samina Sabir
GOVERNMENT of Azad Jammu and Kashmir has taken rigorous preventive measures to curtail the spread of COVID-19 pandemic and its wreak havoc impacts, and hitherto they are successful. Azad Jammu and Kashmir is a landlocked territory, therefore, it is very easy for the government to maintain the record of people travelling from Islamabad and other cities of Pakistan to Azad Kashmir at different entry and exit points and they are doing it very efficiently. On one side, it is not like a piece of cake to tackle the population of more than four million but passion, dedication and commitment of the government and entire health department have made it possible. So far total infected cases reported in AJK are 59 with zero death toll, GB has 318 infected cases with 3 death score, while Punjab the most populated province of Pakistan has highest infected cases of 5446 with death toll of 81, Sindh has total infected cases of 4615 with confirmed death toll of 81 followed by the KP with 186 infected cases and death toll of 98, and Baluchistan has 781 confirmed infected cases with 11 confirmed death toll. Therefore we clearly see that Azad Kashmir has less infected cases compared with other provinces of Pakistan with zero death case.
In this connection, the role of doctors, paramedics and nurses is commendable in fighting against the contagious disease. Government of AJK has created history by taking timely effective preventive measures that started from the closure of schools, colleges, universities and businesses followed by the first meeting of National Security Committee. When a few cases were reported in Mirpur Azad Kashmir, government of AJK completely shutdown Azad Kashmir, identified medical centres and hospitals for the treatment of suspected patients. Moreover, government has established quarantine centres in major cities of AJK to contain novel coronavirus. Government has established isolated wards in 38 hospitals with the provision of testing kits, medicines and medical equipment. Entire network of health department and other agencies are working hard to contain the outbreak of COVID-19 in AJK. There are total 3752 beds in all hospitals and dispensaries and number of bed per 100000 population is only 0.049. Therefore there is a health infrastructure constraint in the territory of AJK but government is scrambling to come out of pandemic with prevailing health facilities. It is observed that COVID-19 curve is getting flatten in AJK. Dr. Harvey Fineberg, President of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, a philanthropic organization in Palo Alto, California said, “The aim is not to flatten the curve but the goal is to crush the curve”. Therefore COVID-19 is like a war and we should fight it like a war to win, not to let it continue and hassle us for an indefinite period.
Flattening of COVID-19 depends massively on will, understanding and commitment of people. We must appreciate the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir for observing self-discipline and adopting social distancing in true essence. With strong sense of responsibility, they have actively participated in the nationwide fight against pandemic. Moreover, government has played proactive role in providing uninterrupted supply of food items and medicines to the masses. To cater the basic necessities of the masses, groceries, pharmacies and general stores are kept open from 10 am to 4 pm. District administration imposes penalties if anyone violates lockdown protocol. District administration and armed forces have adopted stringent containment measures to prevent social gathering of people in public places. President and Prime Minister of AJK have negotiated with religious scholars to ensure minimum gatherings in mosques during congregational and Ramadan prayers by keeping safe distance.
During lockdown, it is difficult for the poor masses particularly daily wagers and vulnerable workers to maintain livelihood. Cash transfers have been made under Ehsaas Emergency cash program (EECP) to ease the survival of the people of AJK and to accommodate them during COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, philanthropists and social organizations have played effective and enduring role during pandemic crisis by providing ration to the vulnerable people to get them out of instant hunger. Despite all the preventive measures taken so far, there is a need to continue lockdown for a couple of weeks to completely crush down pandemic with zero expectation of its regrowth in coming months. Government has gone for a partial or smart lockdown in Azad Jammu & Kashmir and we have seen that people are not following the SOPs of partial lockdown and it can be catastrophic. Moreover overall infection are ramping up in Pakistan. With the decrease in new cases of COVID-19 pandemic, a few countries have taken the cautious steps to reopen their economies. For instance, China did not permit cities to reopen until it was guaranteed that there were no new cases for two weeks. AJK has to adopt the same policy, otherwise consequences of partial lockdown can be ruinous. Moreover our health system is fragile, a lockdown and social distancing can thwart humongous suffering.
—The writer is Assistant Professor, Institute of Economics, the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Muzaffarabad.
