Honour our first responders

Crises like wars and pandemics throw up heroes. One such hero is 26-year-old physician Dr Osama Riaz. He succumbed to the deadly virus he contracted while helping patients who had returned to Gilgit-Baltistan from abroad. That coronavirus is exacting a heavy toll on doctors, nurses and other medical personnel all over the world is a grim reality. It is also a fact that our healthcare infrastructure is not robust enough to deal with the coronavirus challenge in an effective and meaningful manner. In days ahead, this challenge will become more formidable, which is evident from the havoc this deadly has already created in many advanced countries, particularly Italy and Spain.
According to statistics issued in the first week of March by China's National Health Commission, more than 3,300 health workers contracted the new virus, and at least 13 died. Pakistan has already lost the strategic edge in this war against time. The way suspected virus-infected pilgrims were handled at the Taftaan border-post speaks volumes about our national, managerial and professional inadequacies.
Our hospitals are certainly under-staffed despite availability of over 200 thousand doctors and around a million healthcare workers. Those on duty are not afraid of the coronavirus, but they are woefully ill-equipped. Five basic protections they need are masks, protective gowns, gloves, face shields and hand-washing lotions. Importantly, the masks they need should be of N95 type as they are almost a certain protection gear against air-borne viruses. No less important is the morale of doctors, nurses and other medical personnel. It is heartening to note that the general public has begun expressing itself in varied ways to honour these first responders. Last but not least, in addition to healthcare professionals and workers, the personnel of law enforcement agencies are right in the line of fire; they must be protected, appreciated and respected.