By Shujauddin Qureshi
Experts and professionals from different parts of Pakistan and other countries have underlined the need for strictly following the official lockdown orders to save many human lives from coronavirus (COVID-19) and urged the governments to arrange adequate medical and testing facilities in all areas and provide personal protection equipment (PPE) to doctors and paramedical staff.
Speaking at a video conference via Zoom on 19th April, 20202, organized by Sindh Social Scientists Forum (SSSF), a social think tank, the speakers from Karachi, Islamabad, Noshehro Feroz, Sakrand, Saudi Arabia, Hungary, China, Australia and Iraq said that many countries have succeeded in controlling the COVID-19 by strictly implementing lockdowns.
In their recommendations, the speakers emphasized the need to create awareness among the general public by observing social distancing, avoiding going outside unnecessarily and frequently washing hands with soaps.
They urged the government to provide Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) to all healthcare staff in all hospitals and dispensaries in the country.
Dr. Riaz Shaikh, Dean, of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST), said the situation is becoming dangerous as he feared that relaxation in lockdown may further worsen the situation in Pakistan in the coming days. According to him, there is a lack of seriousness and political will on the part of the government. The government cannot collect the correct data of the virus affectees. Even the Prime Minister has admitted that no data is available for providing economic relief to poor and daily wage workers.
Dr Choudhry Inayatullah, Ex-ARR UNDP Pakistan and CEO of AWARDS NGO and currently working with the Ministry of Food Security at the Government of Pakistan from Islamabad as a Consultant said that still testing rate is still lower in Pakistan so the available data cannot be credible. He said temperature changes may affect the spread of COVID-19 and when the temperature decreases in autumn the number of patients may increase. He said the air-conditioning environment is also harmful to the patients.
Lockdowns in other countries
Zahid Jalbani, who works for an international NGO in the Kurdish region in Iraq said that strict lockdown orders have resulted in control over the spread of COVID-19 in Iraq. The Iraqi government had imposed a curfew in most of the area. In the Kurdistan region now zero patients are reported for the last three days so the government has eased the lockdown.
According to him, people in Iraq, who are fond of eating outside daily have now restricted themselves at home and they are following the government orders, which has resulted in control over the situation.
Dodo Khan Qamrani who works at the Pakistan Embassy in Beijing, China informed the participants that due to the timely and strict lockdown and other preventive measures by the Chinese government in Wuhan city, the spread of disease was controlled in other parts of the country. Now, most of China is open. He said now those who come to China have to undergo strict quarantine rules. All people who arrive at the airports are tested and kept on mandatory quarantine for 14 days at their own expense.
Jawad Haider Mangi from Hungary said that the lockdown has been eased in Austria and Hungary as these countries had taken strict measures. They had tested most of their citizens.
Yousuf Choudhry from Brisbane, Australia said that over 6000 cases of coronavirus have been reported in Australia. The government was very strict in implementing social distancing. It was imposing massive fines on violators. All six states in Australia have closed borders with each state, he added.
Dr. Nusrat Shah from the Civil Hospital Karachi informed the conference that due to the lockdown, many patients other than COVID-19 are unable to reach the hospitals. Many deaths of such patients also occur due to the non-availability of healthcare facilities. Even though OPDs have been started in government hospitals, the number of patients is still lower as transport is also closed down in the city and many patients cannot reach at the medical facilities.
Ms Raheema Panhwar, Provincial Coordinator, Water Aid Sindh said the role of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) should be strengthened. Timely disbursement of PPEs should be ensured.
Mr. Ishaq Soomro Executive Director of The Change Organization from Sankarand said that some media channels are showing fake reports about the non-distribution of relief to people to defame the country.
Aijaz Ali Khuwaja, General Secretary of Sindh Social Scientists Forum (SSSF) said that SSSF is a social think tank working on different socio-economic and development issues of Sindh & Pakistan. This conference on COVID-19 is also part of SSSF’s strategy of mobilization of communities, government & civil society.
Dr Allah Nawaz Samoo, CEO of Thardeep Rural Development Program (TRDP), Nisar Solangi and Iftikhar Amed Solangi from Saudi Arabia, Dr Nafisa Shah, MNA, social activist Ms Naghma Shaikh, Zafar Dahraj, Abdullah Solangi, Abid Lashari, Majid Maqsood, Shujauddin Qureshi and Dr. Amanullah Solangi also joined the video conference.
good discussion