Pak doctors treating Corona Patients without gloves, Masks- their own life at risk

Everyone is well aware of the coronavirus outbreak which has spread in over 160 countries across the world. By far, the virus has affected over 6.5 lakh people globally and the global death toll has risen to at least 30,000. Thankfully, over 1.4 lakh people have recovered from the deadly outbreak.

The speed with which corona is spreading seems unstoppable, thereby the world is going towards a lockdown. People are living in fear due to coronavirus pandemic. People have been advised to adopt social distancing during the lockdown. The condition across the world is critical but we know–this too shall pass.

Meanwhile, Pakistan is seeing the shortage of face masks since the coronavirus pandemic. In Pakistan, Hospitals and healthcare facilities are struggling to cope with the daily inflow of patients and lack of beds, equipment like ventilators in the time of crisis.

Pakistani doctors are putting their lives at risk as they do not have enough face masks. Despite the lack of face masks, doctors in Pakistan are treating corona patients. In Pakistan alone, the confirmed positive cases of coronavirus have reached nearly 15,00, while at least 10 patients have died. There are more than 12,000 suspected COVID-19 patients in the country, a top health official said.

Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government has not been able to announce a lockdown in the country amid the coronavirus pandemic. Armed forces have been deployed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 outbreak, but even this move has not been successful.

In the fight against the pandemic, doctors have not been spared by the COVID-19 outbreak. Two Pakistani doctors have been tested positive for coronavirus so far. Amid the pandemic, doctors, nurses, paramedics, police, pilots, and railway workers are putting their lives at risk, but they do not have sufficient face masks and sanitizers.  

Amid the ongoing situation in Islamabad, a doctor has revealed that he is treating the Corona patients while wearing polythene on the head and hands. He also shared his pictures in which he can be seen covering himself with polythene. He said, “Even doctors are not safe here as they are treating corona affected patients without wearing gloves and face masks. There are high chances that doctors may be infected with the deadly virus”.

A doctor named Aamir Ali Khan, while speaking to ‘Geo News’, said “How will we deal with the coronavirus when doctors and nurses do not have enough face masks, gloves, and sanitizers. We have been given polythene instead of gloves. Two photos of Aamir Ali Khan are doing the rounds on social media. In the photo, he is wearing a transplant polythene instead of a face mask. 

Aamir raised questions on the medical facilities. He said two doctors have already been infected with the deadly virus. He has written several letters to the government and the local administration. But he has not received any positive response from the government yet. He blamed the government for endangering doctors. He further said, “If doctors get infected with COVID-19, who will treat the patients? “Doctors are helping patients without any gloves and face masks”, he added.

Pakistan’s government has come under threat after the coronavirus created a panic across the country. The deadly disease has put doctors into distress in Pakistan as they too are getting affected by the virus. The Pakistan government has remained ignorant of the coronavirus outbreak that triggered tensions among people. The situation is becoming volatile due to the deadly virus. It is to be noticed that the condition has gone from bad to worse in Pakistan.

Earlier, the Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan urged the United Nation to waive off all outstanding debt in his country due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. He said that Pakistan does not have enough resources to combat the COVID-19 outbreak.

Quarantine camps have been installed on the Pakistan-Iran border where infected people are being kept with no medical facilities. There is no real housing and no bathrooms, towels or blankets. Even, there are not sufficient doctors at the camp to look after the patients. Infected people are worried about their lives as they are not getting proper treatment to recover from the deadly disease.

Unfortunately, for now, there is no vaccination or cure available to help patients recover the deadly disease. So it is advised to take all possible precautions. People should avoid the area where coronavirus infection has been reported. Make sure that you keep yourself away from those who have coronavirus symptoms.

Writer, historian, and activist Dharam Sikarwar is a very active author The Youth. He writes on national and international issues, environment, politics. He is an avid book reader as well.