Sindh CM lauds China’s COVID vaccines support
Gwadar Pro
Karachi: Pakistan Sindh province’s Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah has lauded Iron Brother China’s support with the anti-COVID vaccines.
The CM declared COVID control as top priority of his government and directed to further accelerate measure for expanding the vaccination facilities so that one lac jabs could be provided in a single day.
Shah chaired a meeting of the Corona Task Force (CTF) to discuss the situation ahead of the Muslims’ festival; of Eidul Fitr, likely on Thursday or Friday.
Secretary Health Kazim Jatoi told the CTF meeting that the provincial government has received 862,000 dozes of Chinese Sinopharm, 11,000 Cansino, and 80,000 Sinovac.
In addition 107,500 Astrazeneca vaccines through the World Health Organization’s under the COVAX programme were also received, Jatoi said.
He added that 633,402 dozes of Sinopharm, 11000 of Cassino, 61,200 Sinovac and 1480 Astrazeneca have been utilized.
It was pointed out that the third wave of Coronavirus started on April 9 when 314 cases were detected, and it reached its peak on May 5 when 1,110 cases were diagnosed and now it seems to be dropping down to 911 cases on May 7 and 976 cases on May 9.
CM Shah said the Eid holidays were critical and if people fail to follow the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) it would aggravate further. “We urge the urged people to celebrate Eid with simplicity and avoid visiting relatives,” he added as he saluted China for the timely held.
Analyzing deaths trend during the last 30 days, the Secretary Health said on April 9 stemming from coronavirus “we had two deaths and they went on increasing up to 24 on May 5 and then started showing a downward trend and on 9 May 16 deaths were reported.”
The chief minister was told that out of 536 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds only 52 were occupied. Similarly, out of 1,453 High Dependency Units (HDU) beds 278 were occupied and out of 442 low flow beds only 38 were filled.
All the members of the CTF paid tribute to doctors and health workers who were at the forefront in the fight against COVID.
The meeting was attended by provincial ministers, Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Saeed Ghani, Jam Ikram, Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shah, Inspector General Police Sindh Mushtaq Maher, Secretary Finance Hassan Naqvi, Secretary Education Ahmed Bux Narejo and other senior officials.
Later, addressing a news conference Sindh Information Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Adviser to CM for Law Murtaza Wahab and Parliamentary Secretary on Health Qasim Siraj Soomro, briefed about meeting of the CTF and informed that the task force reviewed overall situation of vaccination, testing and treatment of COVID-19, status of health centers and facilities, implementation on SOP’s and other relevant matters.
They said Eidul Fitr prayers could be offered with observance of COVID related SOPs but large gatherings would not be allowed while citizens were advised to behave cautiously and avoid going out of home unnecessarily.
Nasir Shah informed that the CM has categorically declared handling of Corona related situation as the top priority of Sindh government and said that for ensuring procurement of required COVID jabs, Sindh government may consider cutting down development funds to create fiscal space.
Mass vaccination center started functioning in Karachi where 25000 to 30000 people could be administered coronavirus vaccine on daily basis, he said adding that the CM has directed the health department to acquire another shade at Expo Center and enhance vaccination center capacity from 25,000 to 50,000 per day. The CM also directed the chief secretary to set up a mass vaccination center at Hyderabad, he said.
A similar arrangement may be made at Sukkur, Mirpurkhas and Larkana. The health department was directed to keep the vaccination centers operational during the Eid holidays, he added.
Oxygen plants would be installed at tertiary care hospitals in Karachi, Jamshoro, Sukkur and Larkana, Nasir Shah said and added that CTF meeting was told that the daily production of oxygen was 798 MT per day against which demand has been recorded at 724.60 MT, including 534.80 MT for health care, 113.80 industries and 69.85 for distributors.
Parliamentary Secretary on Health Qasim Siraj Soomro said that the health department was procuring vaccines so that mass vaccination drives could be started in the province.
