PRCS to establish two mobile labs for COVID-19 tests

The Pakistan Red Crescent Society’s (PRCS) Sindh chapter on Sunday said they were going to establish at least two mobile testing units in collaboration with the Indus Health Network (IHN) as they received a generous donation from a multinational pharmaceutical firm.

The mobile testing labs would go into densely populated and far-flung areas to collect samples of the suspected COVID-19 patients and share the results through cellular phone networks, the organisation said.

“Today, the Novartis Pakistan has donated us Rs41 million for establishing at least two mobile testing units for the COVID-19 tests in far-flung areas and for the provision of the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to healthcare providers,” PRCS Sindh Chairperson Shahnaz Hamid told journalists at the PRCS Sindh Headquarters in Karachi on Sunday after she received a cheque from officials of the pharmaceutical firm.

Cricketer Moin Khan, actor Adnan Siddiqui, Novartis Pakistan’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Zaid Chaudhry, Dr Junaid Ali Shah and Dr Farhan Essa were among prominent personalities present on the occasion.

The PRCS Sindh chairperson and the Novartis Pakistan CFO signed an agreement, through which the pharmaceutical firm donated Rs41 million for the establishment of mobile testing labs as well as for the provision of PPE for healthcare providers.

The pharmaceutical firm officials vowed to continue supporting the PRCS in helping out the people in distress.

Speaking on the occasion, Shahnaz Hamid said they were planning to establish at least two mobile testing labs initially, which would go to far-flung areas of the city and also to the suburbs to collect samples of the suspected COVID-19 patients, who would be apprised of their results through their cell phones.

“There are many people who can’t go to the labs and centres for various reasons. In order to test them for the COVID-19, we are going to establish mobile testing labs which would go to the residence of these people, especially in areas like Lyari, Orangi Town, Baldia and other areas to test people at their abodes”, Hamid said.

She felicitated the pharmaceutical firm and hoped that other companies and philanthropists would also come forward and support the PRCS in helping out the underprivileged sections of the society.

Cricketer Moin Khan said Pakistan was one of the most unique countries in the world where people generously donated to the ones in distress. He said he was glad to see not only philanthropists but also the corporate sector and the pharmaceutical companies coming forward to help authorities in dealing with the COVID-19 emergency in the country.

“I would urge other companies and philanthropists to follow the legacy of multinational pharmaceutical company Novartis Pakistan and donate generously,” Khan said and vowed to support the PRCS and other humanitarian organisations in their work.

Zaid Chaudhry said their firm was working in Pakistan and providing medicines to 30 million people. He said this was not possible without the assistance of healthcare providers.

“Today we are donating a small sum of Rs41 million for helping the PRCS in establishing the mobile testing labs as well as provision of PPE to healthcare providers, who are frontline workers”, Chaudhry said. He added that their firm stood with the people of Pakistan.

PRCS Secretary Kanwar Waseem said that in collaboration with the Indus Health Network (IHN), the mobile testing labs of the PRCS would reach the densely populated areas of the province and collect samples of the suspected COVID-19 patients, who would be informed through cell phones about the result.

“Similarly, we are going to acquire PPE for our healthcare providers and frontline workers and it would be provided to them at the facilities where the COVID-19 patients were being treated”, he added.

Eminent orthopaedic surgeon and Private Hospitals’ Association President Dr Junaid Ali Shah, Dr Farhan Essa and actor Adnan Siddiqui also spoke on the occasion.