NDMA Chairperson discusses availability of medical equipment

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) chairperson Lt Gen Muhammad Afzal shared details of the availability of medical equipment and phase-wise plans over the next two months.

In a statement issued today (Monday), NDMA Chairperson assured the people that the government was taking best possible steps to help those affected by coronavirus.

Muhammad Afzal also informed that disaster management has been given sufficient funds so it can intervene.

Commenting on the phases of the plan, Muhammad Afzal said, “We have distributed our plans into three phases; the first phase starts from April 3, the second till April 30, and the third one will start from May, and will be reviewed on May 30.”

Referring to Phase 1, he said, “In Phase 1 we will ensure good checking at airports. Till April 5, we will ensure all health workers are given personal protective equipment (PPE).

He further said that the first phase will be completed on March 30. The negotiations are ongoing with vendors, with the Chinese embassy through a video link.”

NDMA Chairperson said that the authority was in touch with the Pakistan International Airline (PIA) and will bring the equipment by Friday, adding that all health workers will have PPE by next week.

He said, “The Chinese envoy told me today that 14 tonnes of PPE and ventilators will be given to Pakistan by Friday.”

Muhammad Afzal further said that the programme was to increase the score of testing patients, adding that all sanitisers and chemicals have been formed by our institution.

NDMA Chairperson also claimed that in the coming month, we will be ready to fight the outbreak of coronavirus.

Appreciating China for helping, he said, “China has helped us a lot. And we will also have a team of Chinese who will visit all provinces and advise us to deal with the crisis and manage it.”

He also announced that Ali Baba’s owner Jack Ma will send 500,000 masks, which include 50,000 N95 masks by Wednesday.