Daily Times

In the name of KN95 masks, the Sindh government has sent ordinary sponge masks to hospitals across the metropolis. Earlier, Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Sindh had dispatched over 100,000 KN95 masks, donated by China, to various hospitals in Sindh.

According to Health Dept notification Sindh govt handed over one lac KN95 masks to Secretary Health and Dept had issued to Sindh hospitals with numbers of Masks, among them a huge quantity was given to Larkana Division, each hospital 4000 masks, while in Karachi 5000 masks to JPMC 2000 masks to Liyari General Hospital and other remaining hospitals of Karachi 200 to 500 each hospital.

Although the list issued by Sindh govt it is clearly written on it “Distribution of KN95 masks”, when contacted to hospital they denied of receiving KN95 masks.

JPMC Head Dr Seemi Jamali told that we haven’t received any KN95 mask, but 5000 masks from the Sindh govt adding that those masks made of sponge and had a fabric inside as a lining not KN95 mask. A paramedical staff told that the mask which was given to Sindh Government Hospital Korangi it was made of sponge which is an ordinary mask can’t protect us from Coronavirus that’s why our Doctors have returned to District Director.

According to hospital source each hospital in different areas of Karachi has received 75-100 masks; neither Doctor nor paramedical staffs have been provided KN95 mask even not personal protective equipment (PPE) yet.

On other hand celebrities and welfare organizations are coming forward in this testing time to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to doctors and hospitals.

An ICU technician Qatar Hospital Orangi told that we are compelled to use undergarments fabric mask instead of N95 mask because the mask came from China, have they been sold or have they kept for their personal usage? According to sources N95 mask were being sold at private hospital’ store in Karachi.

Taking to twitter Mir Saarng Soomro asked to Sindh Government that how many N95 masks have been distributed to doctors and how many sindh has given to bureaucrats and their wives.

A paramedical staff told that when PPP legislator Ghnawer Ai Khan Isran who is member of Sindh food control authority came to our hospital he was wearing a mask N95 and we all paramedical staff were having normal mask.

Dr Tasveer Hussain said that it’s really disappointed to see that doctors are wearing normal masks and ministers and other officers are wearing N95 masks adding that no safety kits and surgical masks for doctor. Mohammad Ismail Jiskani Vice President of Paramedical Staff Association tweeted that Sindh govt has failed to secure the lives of front liner medical staff as several have suffered +COVID19 there is no N95 mask but using made of sponge which is an ordinary mask. Jaskani said that instead of providing any health risk allowance or other benefits to the doctors during the pandemic, the provincial health department has deducted 10 per cent of their salaries. Earlier Consul General of China in Karachi Li Bijian has sent N95 masks to TV channels for their workers, while Daily Times contacted to Current News affairs Head of a TV Channel Mansoor Mani, he confirmed that we have received N95 masks from China embassy which is really N95 not that one mask which Sindh govt has provided to hospitals.