PDMA provides 25,000 more COVID-19 testing kits to KP

PESHAWAR: The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has provided 25,000 coronavirus testing kits to the health authorities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Saturday.

Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Lieutenant-General Muhammad Afzal has said that 25,000 kits will enhance the province’s capacity of conducting tests, adding that the efforts are being made to provide every possible facility to frontline health workers battling the COVID-19 pandemic.

He further said that the concerned authorities were increasing the present testing capacity of COVID-19 regularly. Afzal said Pakistan has the ability to hold 30,000 to 40,000 tests per day.

He added “All kinds of hospitals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have received medical equipment, while the hospitals in Punjab will soon receive protective gear.

On Friday, President Dr Arif Alvi has stressed on ensuring the provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other necessary medical equipment to hospitals to provide better treatment to coronavirus infected patients.

NDMA Chairman Lt. General Muhammad Afzal had briefed the president on the coronavirus situation in the country. He highlighted the measures taken by NDMA to support the health sector and medical community by providing them PPEs and medical equipment.

He mentioned that NDMA had established a database of doctors and nurses and medical equipment for the first time, which would be helpful for coordination purposes in future.

He said 1.7 million surgical masks, including 75,000 N-95 masks have been distributed by the authorities till now. He said 73,000 protective clothes have also been provided to frontline health staff.