QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Alyani has said that his government adopted preventive measures immediately after the threat of coronavirus emerged.

During his visit to Fatima Jinnah Chest and General Hospital on Sunday evening, he said the provincial government was utilising all available resources to deal with this challenge. Isolation wards with all necessary equipment and facilities had already been established in all district hospitals, he added.

The chief minister inspected the Isolation Ward, Intensive Care Unit and Public Health Laboratory at the hospital.

Mr Alyani was informed that the condition of a child affected by coronavirus was now better as currently he was in the isolation ward.

The medial superintendent of the hospital informed the chief minister that all necessary facilities, including five ventilators, were available in the isolation ward.

Mr Alyani also inspected the Public Health Laboratory where he was informed that the laboratory had modern facilities for testing corona and Congo viruses and other infectious diseases.

Expressing satisfaction over the situation, he said that steps would be taken to expand the hospital and enhance medical facilities there.

The chief minister said that the health department and Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) were providing maximum facilities to the pilgrims returning from Iran and other people who had been quarantined in Taftan and Quetta.

While talking to the doctors and other medical staff on the occasion, he praised them for their services and passion in prevention of coronavirus.

Mr Alyani termed the performance of the medical staff and the administrative officers a great achievement and said that the passion and dedication that the medical staff and the administrative officers had shown in prevention and treatment of coronavirus would certainly help his government succeed in this mission.

Health Secretary Mudassir Malik informed the chief minister that the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research had also established its laboratory to conduct tests of pilgrims in the quarantine centre.

PDMA Director General Imran Zarkoon informed the chief minister that pilgrims were being facilitated in the quarantine center.

Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2020