COVID-19 has left 12,227 people infected, among these, 256 people have died of the virus in Pakistan. Another senior Pakistani doctor working at Peshawar’s Hayatabad Medical Complex passed away on Saturday due to health complications arising out of the deadly disease.
According to hospital Director Dr. Shahzad Faisal, Professor Dr. Mohammad Javed had contracted the coronavirus a week earlier.
Dr Javed, who was also an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist, was kept on a ventilator when his condition deteriorated, however, he could not survive.
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Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has recorded more than 1,708 cases of the coronavirus so far, with 89 deaths — the highest number of deaths across Pakistan.
A very tragic news —-
Prof Mohammad Javed, ENT department Hayatabad Medical Complex in Peshawar, lost his battle against COVID19. He was tested positive more than a week ago and was put on ventilator in HMC.
He died on Saturday morning, according to Dr Shehzad Faisal, hospital pic.twitter.com/OJfPKqNQPO— سادہ گل®🔥 (@saada_gul) April 25, 2020
On April 23, a document revealed that 30 health workers, including doctors, were infected with the coronavirus in KP. Of the medical staff who have contracted the COVID-19 virus, 14 were doctors, five paramedics, and 11 other health professionals.
Doctors and medical staff have repeatedly urged the government to enforce stricter lockdown measures and to provide them with the appropriate safety gear in the fight against the coronavirus.
Prominent Dr Abdul Qadir Soomro died of coronavirus in Sindh:
Dr Abdul Qadir Soomro, a senior doctor and a leading dermatologist breathed his last on the 4th of April after getting infected with coronavirus in Karachi, raising the death toll of health professionals dying from the pandemic to three in the country.
Soomro was diagnosed with the coronavirus on the 2nd of April after which he was shifted to a local hospital. Earlier, as a frontline doctor, he had helped to establish a special ward for the coronavirus patients in Al-Khidmat Hospital.
Dr Abdul Qadir Soomro was the former head of Pakistan Medical Islamic Association and former medical superintendent at Steel Mills Hospital. Senior politicians and government officials have condoled his death and recalled his valuable services for the health sector in Pakistan.
Pakistan People’s Party leaders including chief minister Sindh, Murad Ali Shah, Sherry Rehman, and Nafisa Shah have expressed deep sorrow and grief on the demise of Dr.Abdul Qadir Soomro.
Dr Soomro has served as a skin specialist and family physician for 38 years. His death has spiked fear and concerns among the doctors across Pakistan. Medical professionals have complained about life risk while treating coronavirus patients without personal protective equipment (PPE).
Doctors from all the provinces have condemned the apathy of the government officials for overlooking their safety and security. By ignoring their calls to provide them with protective equipment, the government is denying them safety and security, argues the young doctors.
Dr.Usama Riaz died of coronavirus in Gilgit:
Usama Riaz, a 26-year-old doctor from Chillas, was among the 10-member team of doctors assigned with the screening of pilgrims returning from Iran. He later started to treat suspected coronavirus patients at the isolation center established in Gilgit.
His colleagues informed that Dr Usama Riaz relentlessly served the coronavirus patients and risked his health. He spent three days on the ventilator before his death.