Sindh seeks testing kits, PPEs from Centre as three more die

KARACHI: The Sindh government on Friday requested the federal authorities to provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and testing kits to Sindh as three more persons died due to pneumonia caused by the coronavirus in Sindh, including two in Karachi and one in Hyderabad, raising the total number of deaths to 14 in Sindh.

“Two more deaths have been confirmed due to Coronavirus in Karachi today. The patients were 82 and 60 years old respectively. Both patients were tested positive on 1st April and were cases of local transmission. The 60-year-old patient had heart problems and was on ventilator whereas the 82-year-old patient had renal problems,” Sindh Health Minister Dr. Azra Pechuho announced on Friday.

The health minister said a 54-year-old patient has also died in Hyderabad, who was tested positive on 3rd April and was a case of local transmission. The patient had a neurological disorder, which affected his immune system. This brings the total number of deaths in Sindh to 14, the health minister added.

Expressing his concern over the growing number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the Sindh province, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said that during the last 18 days, 87 percent rise has been recorded in coronavirus cases. “This is alarming and the pandemic needs more focused and collective efforts to control the situation.”

He said this while participating in the prime minister’s meeting through video link from the CM House. The meeting was attended by Minister Health Dr Azra Pechuho, CM Coordinator Haris Gazdar, Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shah, DG Rangers Major General Omer Bukhari, IGP Sindh Mushtaq Maher, PSCM Sajid Jamal Abro, ACS Home Usman Chachar, Brigadier Sami of Corps-5, Secretary Investment Najam Shah, Dr Bari CEO of Indus Hospital and Prof Dr Faisal.

The chief minister said that there were 783 cases reported till afternoon of April 3. “If the figures of the cases of last 17 to 18 days are calculated, it will show an 87 percent rise in the infection, this is alarming and it must be contained with well worked-out collective efforts.”

He also said his government was facing a shortage of Personal Protective equipment (PPEs) and testing kits for coronavirus. The medical professionals working in isolation centers and in hospitals must be clad in PPEs to avoid infection risk, he said and added “The PPEs available with the provincial government are running out, therefore, more PPEs are required.” At this, the DG MPDA said that he has sent the PPEs to Sindh and if they have been used, he would arrange more kits.

The chief minister also said that the testing kits provided by the PDMA had some accuracy issues, as has been pointed out by the experts working with the Sindh government, therefore, they are not being used. The prime minister directed the PDMA to coordinate with the provincial government and resolve the issues of kits.

The meeting was told that till the afternoon of April 3, 783 cases of coronavirus have been detected. Out of 783 cases, 342 cases are in 151 in Hyderabad, 273 in Sukkur, seven in Larkana, two in Ghotki, one in Jacobabad, one in Dadu and six in Shaheed Benazirabad.

The chronology shows that on March 31, 49 cases were detected, on April 1, 367 and on April 2, 40 cases detected. The number of local transmissions has reached 438. The chief minister said that our cases have increased by 87 percent during the last 15 days, therefore, the government, federal and the provincial governments have to take necessary measures to contain the virus.

Under the client status, 297 people are in isolation at their homes, 65 patients, including 25 pilgrims, have been cured while 11 succumbed to the virus infection.

Thalassemia patients: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has directed the health department to issue necessary instructions to the regional blood banks to provide blood for Thalassemia patients. “I am worried about the patients, particularly the children,” he said and added they must be administered blood as per schedule.The minister health assured the chief minister that she was issuing directives to RBCs for giving blood for Thalassemia patients.