LAHORE: Administration of government hospitals and the City District Government Lahore (CDGL) have braced themselves for any emergency situation during the 9th and 10th of Muharram, Pakistan Today has learnt.
Special steps have been taken to cope with any untoward incident during the two auspicious days of Muharram.
Medical superintendents of different public hospitals across the provincial metropolis have collected the duty roster and assigned special duties to the staff. Senior teaching and administrative staff, including professors and MSs will also remain present during the two days to cope with any emergency.
Talking to Pakistan Today, Mayo Hospital MS Dr Zahid Pervaiz said a 400-page duty roster has been called with the entire staff on call. He said 16 operation theatres will remain open with the staff available, adding that crisis cover of 1,000 patients has been arranged. Moreover, he said 400 bottles of blood have been arranged in advance at the two blood banks of Mayo Hospital.
He further said that a back up of 100 beds each in the medicine and surgery wards have been arranged to cope with any situation. “Professors are on call while I will personally supervise all activities…the incoming and outgoing routes have been separated for better efficiency and convenience of patients…10 additional CCTV cameras have been installed making the number to 19, with security guards directed to frisk patients and attendants at different points,” Pervaiz added.
Services Hospital MS Dr Javaid said an additional medical unit has been arranged in the emergency ward, while the routine staff, both administrative and teaching will be on duty during the two days. Moreover, he said different medical stores will also remain open regarding Muharam.
The CDGL has also set up five hospitals for first aid and trauma services. The sites are Central Model School, Al Khameni Trust Hospital, Imran Hospital, Bibi Pak Daman and a school within the Walled City.
Health Executive District Officer (EDO) Dr Umar Farooq told Pakistan Today that the medical establishments will keep working round the clock, with staff working in three shifts. He said officials at Al Khameni Trust hospital have been tasked with monitoring the operation. Moreover, he said the two district headquarter (DHQs) hospitals have been put on red alert while the CDGL staff will keep a liaison with all teaching hospitals in the city.
A small blood bank has also been established for mourners, he said. “The arrangements this year are better than previous years, with CDGL staff being present on the spot with the mourners for immediate treatment,” Farooq concluded.
Moreover, on the directions of Punjab Health Secretary Fawad Hassan Fawad, the Health Department has established control rooms at provincial as well as at district level for providing medical facilities to the wounded persons during any untoward situation in any part of the Punjab. These operation rooms would work round the clock.
It was disclosed by Director General Health Punjab Dr Muhammad Aslam Chaudhry. He informed that provincial control rooms have been established in the office of Directorate General Health Services Punjab, Cooper Road Lahore, whereas, at district level these control rooms have been established in the office of the EDO Health of the concerned district. Chaudhry said that provincial and district control rooms would work in coordination with each other and the provincial control rooms would play basic role in providing immediate medical aid to the injured persons in case of any incident.
He further told that all the Teaching as well as District and Tehsil Headquarters Hospitals have also been put on high alert so that additional medical staff, medicines, ambulances etc would be provided to the concerned affected areas in case of any emergency.
Health Secretary Fawad Hassan Fawad also issued instructions to the principals of medical colleges to keep senior doctors and other staff on standby for providing backup support to any hospital in Punjab to cope with any emergency situation in the province.
