Karachi: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has donated vehicles and equipment worth over Rs120 million to boost the public health care emergency response system of the Sindh government during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A ceremony was held at the Karachi’s Expo Centre where WHO’s Representative in Pakistan and Head of Mission, Dr Palitha Mahipala, handed over the medical equipment and vehicles to Sindh Health Minister, Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho. The Expo Centre was earlier used by the Sindh government as the mass facility to isolate and treat COVID-19 patients and conduct the coronavirus vaccination drive in Karachi.
The WHO donated 12 fully equipped and customized ambulances, two cold-chain trucks, three double cabin vehicles and 230 motorbikes. These motorcycles are fixed with a top box for carrying vaccination supplies and will be able to reach hard-to-reach populations of Sindh province. The ambulances have all the necessary equipment and supplies and will add to the emergency support services in Karachi.
The WHO also handed over IT equipment, office furniture and medical equipment to the Sindh Government’s Health Department to strengthen the essential health care services and outreach activities in districts of Karachi. The IT equipment includes projectors, laptops and photocopy machines.
The extensive medical equipment includes incubators, cardiac monitors, ECG machines, operation theatre lights, sterilizers, oxygen cylinders, baby weighing scales, ultrasound machines, crash trolleys, delivery tables amongst other supplies.
Dr Pechuho thanked the WHO’s Representative in Pakistan, for the support of the international public health body in the strengthening of COVID-19 response in the province and enhancement of public health structure in Sindh.
Dr Mahipala extended gratitude to the provincial government and assured continuous support for strengthening the health system, essential healthcare services and COVID-19 response in Sindh.
The ceremony was attended by Parliamentary Secretary of Health in Sindh, Qasim Soomro, Sindh Health Secretary, Zulfiqar Ali Shah, Director General Health Services of Sindh, Dr Juman Bahoto, Project Director, EPI (Expanded Programme on Immunization) Sindh, Dr Irshah Memon, deputy commissioners in various districts, and other health and WHO officials.
