Few months back when corona virus emerged, countries around the world were not prepared to deal with it. Within a short span of time, it became a pandemic. Now, after being effected for months, some of the countries have controlled the spread of the virus, others are still trying to fight. In the initial days of the pandemic, there was a shortage of sanitizers, masks, protective gears and ventilators. Vaccine to fight against the virus is still no where to be found but the good thing is that researchers are working on the vaccine and we might get it by the end of this year.
COVID-19 is a respiratory disease. Patients who face difficulty in breathing are given artificial oxygen and in severe cases they are put on the ventilator. Unfortunately, there are not enough ventilators in hospitals. Developed countries like USA and UK also lack this facility.
According to the World Health Organization, Pakistan has emerged as one of the countries with the fastest rate of coronavirus infections in past weeks. The country reported its first coronavirus case on February 26 and is now among the top 15 most-affected countries in the world. Number of patients has already surpassed China, where the novel virus originated. Government officials claim the situation is “under control,” but health authorities believe the already stretched health system is unable to handle the lurking flood of COVID-19 patients. Hospitals in Pakistan are struggling as COVID-19 cases have exploded after the Eid festivities. Pakistan had a total of 1,503 ventilators available at government hospitals for treating COVID-19 patients. Hospitals in major cities are facing an acute intensive-care shortage and that’s why they are turning away patients.
A ray of sunshine in these critical times emerged when government announced that Pakistan is going to manufacture its own ventilators and would also be able to export them. First batch of ventilators is ready and Prime Minister Imran Khan handed over them the National Disaster Management Authority. Minister of science and technology Fawad Chaudhry tweeted:
“A landmark achieved … first badge of Made in Pakistan ventilators ‘safe vent’ handed over to NDMA by Prime Minister Imran Khan,” Chaudhry said on Twitter, asserting the country has joined a “handful” of countries producing the “complicated medical machinery”.
Other designs and the next batch of these lifesaving machines are under the development stage and they will be soon handed over to the hospitals.
by: Abeer Arshad
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