Tag: Health

Posted on

COVID-19 claims 16 more lives in Sindh: Syed tells

KARACHI:Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that 16 more patients of coronavirus died across Sindh, lifting the death toll 2,845 while 1322 new cases emerged when 10,837 tests were conducted.

 

In a statement issued here from CM House on Monday, he said that 16 more patients of COVID-19 died, lifting the death toll to 2,845 that constituted 1.8 percent death rate.

 

Shah said that 10,837 samples were tested which diagnosed 1,322 cases that constituted 12.2 percent current detection rate. He added that so far 1,906,075 tests had been conducted against which 164,651 cases were detected, of them 89 percent or 146,466 patients have recovered, including 358 overnight.

 

The CM said that currently 15,440 patients were under treatment, of them 14,818 were in home isolation, 12 at isolation centers and 610 at different hospitals. He added that the condition of 545 patients was stated to be critical, including 67 shifted to ventilators.

 

Shah said that out of 1322 new cases, 1065 have been detected from Karachi, including 416 from South, 355 East, 110 Central, 66 West, 61 Korangi, and 57 Malir. He added that Hyderabad has 83 cases, Jamshoro 37, Sujawal 19, Matiari 18, Shaheed Benazirabad and Naushehro Feroze 15 each, Umerkot and Ghotki nine each, Sukkur six, Larkana five, Thatta four, Tando Mohammad Khan and Badin two each, Dadu, Jacobabad, Sanghar, Shikarpur and Tharparkar one each. Syed urged people of the province to abide by the SOPs issued by the government in consultation with the WHO and other experts.

Posted on

PN sets up free medical camp at Keti Bandar

KARACHI:In continuation to Pakistan Navy efforts to provide standard health facilities along the Coastal areas prominently under COVID-19 scenario, Pakistan Navy in collaboration with Rotary Club International, Al-Mustafa Trust and Sahil Welfare Association established a free medical an eye camp at Keti Bandar in Sindh.

 

A qualified and dedicated team of doctors comprising Medical Specialist, Eye Specialist and GDMOs examined the patients on modern diagnostic equipment and extended free consultation, according to a PN statement issued Monday.

 

The patients were also provided with free medicine and minor surgical and dental procedural treatments. Additionally, Patients were comprehensively briefed and enlightened about various infectious diseases and their preventive measures particularly against COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Beside, patients were also educated about maintaining personal health and hygiene, child health care and sanitation of living areas. A large number of women and children requiring medical assistance benefited from the Medical/ Eye camp.

 

Pakistan Navy as a manifestation of its commitment, provide continued quality medical treatment along Coastal belt. The present medical assistance drive is another demonstration of this Nobel resolve.

Posted on

UNICEF working to plan COVID vaccines delivery to 92 countries

ISLAMABAD:UNICEF is working with major global airlines and freight providers to step up efforts to deliver COVID-19 vaccines to over 92 countries around the world as soon as vaccines become available.

 

According to a UN Information Centre Islamabad press release issued Monday, to kick start preparations, UNICEF together with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), briefed major global airlines last week on the expected capacity requirements and discussed ways to transport close to 2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines in 2021. This is in addition to the 1 billion syringes that need to be transported by sea-freight.

 

This virtual meeting comes close on the heels of the first-ever logistics event held virtually by UNICEF to discuss the transportation of COVID-19 vaccines. The landmark discussion brought together more than 350 logistics partners, including air freight operators, shipping lines and global logistics associations.

 

“As work continues to develop COVID-19 vaccines, UNICEF is stepping-up efforts with airlines, freight operators, shipping lines and other logistics associations to deliver life-saving vaccines as quickly and safely as possible,” said Etleva Kadilli, Director of UNICEF’s Supply Division. “This invaluable collaboration will go a long way to ensure that enough transport capacity is in place for this historic and mammoth operation. We need all hands on deck as we get ready to deliver COVID-19 vaccine doses, syringes and more personal protective equipment to protect front line workers around the globe. By protecting these workers, we are ultimately protecting the millions of children who depend on their critical services.”

 

In the coming weeks, UNICEF is also assessing existing transport capacity to identify gaps and future requirements. The procurement, delivery and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines is anticipated to be the largest and fastest such operation ever undertaken. UNICEF is leading efforts to procure and deliver vaccines from manufacturers that have agreements with the COVAX Facility. In collaboration with PAHO, UNICEF will coordinate the purchase and delivery for 92 low- and lower middle-income economies as quickly and securely as possible.

 

These efforts build on UNICEF’s longstanding efforts with the logistics industry to transport supplies around the world despite restrictions related to the pandemic. Since January, UNICEF has delivered more than US$190 million worth of COVID-19 supplies such as masks, gowns, oxygen concentrators and diagnostic test kits in support of countries as they respond to the pandemic.

 

As the largest single vaccine buyer in the world, UNICEF normally procures more than 2 billion doses of vaccines annually for routine immunization and outbreak response on behalf of nearly 100 countries. This unparalleled expertise includes the coordination of thousands of shipments with various cold chain requirements, making UNICEF an expert in supply chain management of temperature-controlled products, which is especially needed during this historic undertaking. To minimize disruptions to routine immunization programmes due to the operations related to the COVID-19 vaccines and syringes, UNICEF and partners will continue to coordinate closely with logistics operators for timely delivery around the world.

 

“The support of governments, partners and the private sector will be paramount to transport vaccines for deadly diseases such as measles, diphtheria and tetanus, as well as for COVID-19, as efficiently as possible,” Kadilli said. Last month, UNICEF began a process to stockpile more than 1 billion syringes by 2021 to guarantee initial supply and pre-position in advance of COVID-19 vaccines.

Posted on

Wearing mask made mandatory for patients, attendants

KARACHI: Director General Health Services Sindh has made use of face mask for patients and their attendants mandatory in the premises of hospitals across the Sindh province, PPI learnt Saturday.

 

The decision has been taken on the directives of Minister Health and Population Welfare Department. All the medical superintendents and administrative directors of government hospitals, including tertiary care /DHQ/THQ health facilities, medical institutions and other units, have been advised to ensure strict compliance with one patient one attendant policy at their healthcare establishments.

 

Every outdoor and indoor patients accompanying attendant must wear face mask all the time beside complete adherence to other COVID-19 preventive measures. The Divisional directors concerned and district health officers are also required to monitor implementation of aforementioned standard operating procedures on daily basis.

Posted on

NICH faces acute shortage of drugs and syringes

KARACHI: National Institute of Child Health (NICH) has been facing shortage of medicines and syringes, causing hardships to the poor indoor and outdoor patients, credible sources told PPI Saturday.

 

The shortage of drugs and disposal surgical items is since several days due to the negligence of the hospital administration. The patients have been compelled to purchase medicines from private medical stores. The shortage of medicine has badly affected the patients care in hospital and also doubled miseries of patients who come from far-flung areas of Sindh for treatment.

 

Sources at NICH told PPI that even gloves, syringes and canolas were not available in the nursery of the hospital. The patients and their attendants have been compelled to purchase gloves and other disposal items from medical stores.

 

Executive Director, National Institute of Child Health, Prof Jamal Raza, however, said there was no shortage of drugs, syringes and canola in hospital.

Posted on

Clinical trials of Anti-COVID-19 C-IVIG show promising results

KARACHI: Clinical trials of anti-COVID-19 intravenous immunoglobulin (C-IVIG) developed by Dow University of Health Sciences show promising results. C-IVIG has shown 100% recovery rate in severe patients, and more than 60% recovery rate in critical patients admitted to ICU or on ventilators, with more than 50% of the recovered patients being discharged from hospital within five days.

 

DUHS conducted preclinical trials of C-IVIG in early April, after which Drug Regulatory Authority Pakistan approved the clinical trial on fast-track. The production of C-IVIG and its clinical trial is sponsored by DUHS with support of HEC, while the efforts put forward by DRAP is also commendable since the approved trials have been successful in saving numerous human lives. Dr Shaukat Ali and his team under the supervision of Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Saeed Quraishy started the project of IVIG production.

 

Dr Shaukat Ali told the media representatives that this C-IVIG is prepared by chemically purifying plasma of recovered COVID-19 patients, which is why it is requested that these recovered individuals donate their plasma.

 

Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority has already permitted DUHS to collect convalescent plasma, however, due to decrease in convalescent plasma donations and a climb in COVID-19 cases, the required amount of IVIG cannot be prepared. Ali also explained that the patients infused with C-IVIG were 60 years on average, and most suffered with diabetes, hypertension and cardiac diseases. The success of C-IVIG in these high risk patients is very encouraging, and leaves no doubt in the affectivity of this treatment.

 

The C-IVIG clinical trial started in June, and has gained speed due to recent rise in COVID-19 patients, however larger quantity of convalescent plasma is required to prepare this drug in larger quantity and cater more patients nationwide.

 

Ali explained that COVID-19 is usually life-threatening due to three reasons: firstly the virus attacks and damages the lungs of the patient, secondly the immune system of patients is overwhelmed by an uncontrollable cytokine storm induced by the virus, and thirdly the secondary bacterial infections cause sepsis in critical patients. C-IVIG, when infused in COVID-19 patients, neutralizes virus, stabilizes immune system, while the antibodies in C-IVIG stops secondary bacterial infection.

 

The team behind C-IVIG led by Ali and supervised by Dr Saeed Quraishy, includes Syed Muneeb Uddin, Mir Rashid Ali, Fatima Anjum, Dr Sheikh Muhammad Muhaymin, Dr Farah, Ayesha Ali, Mujtaba Khan, Elisha Shalim, Tehreem Mushtaq, Faisal Shahab, Abdul Samad Khan and Iqra Ahmed. The clinical team includes Dr Shobha Luxmi of Dow University Hospital and Dr Muneeba Sayeed of Sindh Infectious Disease Hospital.

 

Posted on

NICVD signs MoU for renovation and equipping of Paediatric Cardiology Ward

KARACHI: The National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) on Saturday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with American Pakistan Business Development Forum and Rotary Club of Karachi Crown to support NICVD in renovating Paediatric Cardiology Ward and providing state-of-the-art facilities in the model rooms.

 

The MoU was signed by Professor Nadeem Qamar Executive Director, NICVD, Dr Abdul Sattar Shaikh, Paediactric Cardiologist, NICVD, Zeeshan Altaf Lohya Co-Founder and Chairman, AMPAK-BDF and Assistant Governor and President, Rotary Club of Karachi Crown and Nasser Wajahat Co-Founder and Secretary General, AMPAK-BDF and Secretary General Rotary Club of Karachi Crown.

 

The ceremony was also attended by NICVD’s professors, doctors and management. Dr Abdul Sattar Shaikh later gave a tour to the guests of Paediatric Ward and various areas of the hospital.

 

According to the agreement, the Rotary Club of Karachi Crown and American Pakistan Business Development Forum in collaboration with the NICVD will renovate two rooms entrance of wards with one model room for paediatric ward having 12 beds and will provide beds, create ambiance and state-of-the-art facilities in the model room.

 

Thanking to AMPAK-BDF and Rotary Club of Karachi Crown, Prof Nadeem Qamar said that the purpose of this MoU was to continue to develop and expand a framework of cooperation between AMPAK-BDF and National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases to develop mutually beneficial programs for needy patients.