LARKANA: As many as 16948 frontline health workers have so far been vaccinated against Covid-19 virus at 12 different hospitals in Sindh’s three cities only which include Karachi, Jamshoro and Shaheed Benazirabad upto Sunday during the past five days from 3rd February to 07th February, 2021.
This was stated by the media coordinator to the health minister Meeran Yousuf through a WhatsApp message on Monday. According to figures, 1540 people were vaccinated at LUHMS, Jamshoro, 1595 at SG Hospital Korangi No. 5 Karachi, 1770 at UHC Thado Nalo Hospital, Malir, 1551 at Ojha Hospital, 2398 at SG Qatar Hospital, Orangi, 1236 at SGH at Liaquatabad, 606 at SGH New Karachi, 603 at SG Children Hospital, Karachi, 886 at JPMC Karachi, 2203 at Khaliqdina Hall near Services Hospital and 2560 at MCH Centre Shaheed Benazirabad.
Dr. Gulzar Tunio, incharge COVID ICU, Chandka Medical College Hospital (CMCH), Larkana, told this scribe that a list of around 2000 medics and paramedics of CMCH only including staff nurses has already been sent but vaccine has not yet been supplied. He hoped the vaccine is expected within this week. He said Director, Health Services, Larkana Division, Dr. Rustom Ali Bhutto, has been appointed focal person for vaccination who will receive and distribute among the five districts of Larkana division then it will be vaccinated to the frontline health workers.
It is worthwhile to note that only 1540 health workers have yet been vaccinated in Hyderabad where COVID positive cases were more than Shaheed Benazirabad where 2560 persons have so far been provided vaccines which speaks high about favouritism.
In Larkana COVID ICU three doctors and a paramedic have died which include Dr Ghulam Mustafa Shaikh, Dr. Ubedullah Mangan, Dr. Ishaque Malik and Murtaza Junejo.
In Khairpur four senior frontline health workers have expired due to Covid which include Dr. Wilayat Gopang, Dr. Shafqat Shaikh, Dr. Abdul Sattr Phulpoto, staff nurse Fahmida Jamro but no vaccine has so far been provided there. The frontline workers have demanded immediate supply of preventive vaccines so that panic among them should end.