Daily Times

An emergency operations cell has been established at the Ministry of National Health Services to monitor the situation round the clock, said Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza while chairing a meeting to discuss the preparedness and response in the wake of reports of cases of novel coronavirus in Wuhan City of China.

The directorate of ministry dealing with airport and port health services has been asked to maintain strict vigilance at points of entry and monitor travelers coming into the country from the affected area. The directorate has been advised to strengthen health desk and quarantine arrangements at the ports of entry, he said. There are 41 incoming flights from China to Pakistan every week.

“I am writing to all chief ministers to ensure necessary arrangements are in place in all provinces,” said Dr Zafar Mirza. “I am also establishing contact with National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). We will be working closely with Embassy of China in Pakistan to deal with the situation,” he added.

Dr Mirza emphasized that there is no need to panic. “We are alive to the situation, monitoring the situation and will share regular updates for public information,” he said.

On the directions of the SAPM, the National Institute of Health Islamabad issued an advisory and alert to all provincial health departments and specially points of entry at all airports and ground crossing in Pakistan. Purpose of the advisory is to alert and sensitize the health staff in all over the country to remain vigilant about any suspected cases coming from affected areas of China for early detection of suspected cases of novel Corona virus infection. Executive Director of National Institute of Health Prof Maj Gen (r) Aamer Ikram said that NIH has put emergency operations center on alert mode to monitor the international dynamics of disease and coordination with Central Health Establishment (CHE), WHO and provincial health departments for national prevention and control. He also directed the virology lab to develop a real time Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RRT-PCR) capacity for novel coronavirus as early as The NIH has developed health education and information material for healthcare staff, passengers and general public as well. The NIH held a meeting with all airport health officers on Wednesday and reviewed the steps taken by respective airports. The NIH will provide all possible support to the health staff working at airports and seaport.