CS praises KMU role & services in fight against coronavirus

PESHAWAR: Chief secretary Kazim Niaz on Monday inspected and appreciated the services being offered by the Khyber Medical University (KMU) Peshawar and particularly the Public Health Reference Laboratory (PHRL) in the current pandemic of COVID-19.

Besides others, Vice Chancellor KMU Prof. Dr Arshad Javaid, Secretary Home & Tribal Affairs Ikramullah Khan, Secretary Relief, Rehabilitation & Settlement Abid Majeed, Pro VC KMU & dean public health Prof. Dr Ziaul Haq, director PHRL Dr Yasar Yousafzai, Additional director PHRL Dr Asif Ali and biosafety officer PHRL Dr Hafsa Mohammad were also present at the occasion.

The chief secretary reviewed the arrangements of Quarantine for lab staff other than the performance and biosafety measures of PHRL and expressed satisfaction over these arrangements. "Coronavirus is a challenge for the whole of the nation and we have to contribute our part honestly and professionally to cope with the outbreak," he said. He added that the KMU, despite limited resources, is playing its due role in raising awareness about coronavirus and especially by providing 24 hours testing services at the PHRL. The chief secretary appreciated the enthusiasm and spirit of the KMU staff and hoped that in the coming days the current number of tests in PHRL will be increased from 300 to 700 per day by enhancing the technological as well as staff capacity given the expected increase in coronavirus cases. He said the Rs100 million released to KMU for enhancement of the testing capacity while further needs for hiring human resources and logistics will also be ensured on a priority basis. The chief secretary directed the KMU public health team to cooperate with the Department of Health in diagnosing and rehabilitating coronavirus victims at Mangah, district Mardan, as well as preventing other population from the coronavirus.

Earlier, Prof. Dr Arshad Javaid welcomed the chief secretary and other secretaries, saying that not only the laboratory staff has been increased during the last few days but the order for the purchase of two new test machines have also been placed which will increase the testing capacity of PHRL up to 700 per day. He assured the chief secretary that the KMU would not disappoint the government and the community in this hour of trouble and will continue to play its national role in dealing with Corona crisis in the frontline along with other relevant departments. It may be mentioned here that since the outbreak of the fast-travelling COVID-19, the chief secretary, who is also a medical doctor and graduate of the Khyber Medical College Peshawar, has been playing an active role on many fronts. He took personal interest by making a state of the art laboratory in the KMU operational. The chief secretary gave Rs100 million to the KMU to financial strengthen the institution and raise the number of tests at the KMU-PHRL up to 700 per day in the next few days.