With the coronavirus pandemic worldwide, Pakistan is incurring a lack of medical facilities in the country. Eventually, doctors are also facing severe issues in treating patients without proper medical gears.
On Monday, doctors and health staff in Quetta after being neglected staged a protest demanding protection form the authorities. However, things got worse as the local police arrested about 150 doctors protesting against the non-availability of personal protection equipment (PPE).
Police had used force to disperse the crowd in Quetta yesterday. Doctors later refused to work in government hospitals of the provincial capital.
The Pakistan Army on Tuesday said emergency supplies of medical equipment, including PPE, is being dispatched to Quetta on orders of Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa. “Doctors and paramedics are frontline soldiers in this war,” said the army chief.
Emergency supplies of medical equipment including PPEs being despatched to Quetta on orders of COAS to help medical staff fight Covid-19 effectively in Balochistan. “Doctors & paramedics are the frontline soldiers in this war…” (1/2)
— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) April 7, 2020
Pakistan’s hour of distress
General Bajwa said in the tweet released by the ISPR, that most advanced nations and governments are finding it difficult to fight the pandemic.
“Doctors and paramedics are the frontline soldiers in this war. Most advanced nations and governments are finding it extremely difficult to fight this pandemic. Pakistan’s government is striving hard to acquire and supply the required resources. In this hour of distress, we must remain patient and steadfast.”
He also appreciated the tireless efforts of doctors fighting the pandemic. The dispatched equipment will reach to the doctors effectively fighting the coronavirus in Balochistan.
‘In this hour of distress, we must remain patient and steadfast’
“…Most advanced nations / govts are finding it extremely difficult to fight this pandemic. Pakistan Govt is striving hard to acquire & supply the required resources. In this hour of distress we must remain patient and steadfast.” COAS (2/2)
— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) April 7, 2020
Quetta doctors contracting coronavirus
Balochistan is the largest province of Pakistan by area with the least population. The COVID-19 pandemic has struck the province badly after the return of pilgrims from Iran. The province since then has been battling the lethal virus.
Previously, the YDA in Balochistan had expressed its concern over the shortage of facilities for combatting the deadly virus’s outbreak.
With the severity of the situation and the contagious nature of the coronavirus, several doctors have contracted the disease till now. However, COAS’s quick decision in resolving the current situation in Quetta is being appreciated by all corners.
Dawn
The protest in Quetta came in after a dozen doctors reportedly contracted the virus while performing their duties. With their previous demands unfulfilled by the government, the medical staff took their demands to the streets.
As per reports, Pakistan has reported more than 3,500 coronavirus cases till now and the number keeps on increasing.
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