Staff Reporter
Islamabad
Federal Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Health Dr Nausheen Hamid Friday said that Ministry of Health have established isolation wards in major hospitals in country as a precautionary measure against the possible spread of coronavirus, which has originated in the city of Wuhan.
The Ministry of Health has identified major hospitals in the country and isolation wards have been established there, she said. ‘We have identified National Institute of Health in Islamabad, Shaukat Khanum Hospital in Lahore and Agha Khan Hospital in Karachi have been provided with all the necessary instructions, she said.
China has prepared vaccines and special kits that will soon be available in Pakistan, she added. There is also a central health establishment department within Ministry of Health, she said, adding, this department has help desks at all the entry points at airports and seaports.
The government has provided the scanners at all desks for the screening of passengers coming to Pakistan, she informed. She said there are 41 direct and indirect flights from China to Pakistan, she added.
As per protocol, China upheld the direct flights and the passengers coming from China via indirect flights are properly screened at our ports, she explained. The coronavirus is transferred from human to human at a fast speed, she said, adding, the patients with strong body resistance can be recovered from this virus.
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Friday has requested the government to ban export of disposable gloves and N-95 face masks to prevent the fatal Coronavirus outbreak. The NDMA spokesperson said, keeping in view, Ministry of National Health Services Regulation and Coordination’s advisory and precautionary measure issued to control the outbreak of Noval Coronavirus in Pakistan, the authority had observed that availability of sufficient quantity of first aid material (face mask & gloves) should be ensured at all tiers of health units.
The advisory by the ministry had explained that the first and immediate treatment against the disease was wearing of face mask and gloves, both by the patient and the handler. ‘Noval Caronavirus is viral disease and this immediate first step can control its further outbreak,’ he added. He said NDMA and National Institute of Health (NIH) had conducted an exercise to scan the passengers at the Islamabad International Airport.
