KARACHI: Mayor Karachi Wasim Akhtar on Thursday inaugurated a laboratory at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital (ASH) for Covid-19 testing free of cost where 65 people could be tested on regular basis.
Well trained staffers, Professor and doctors have been assigned there and now the people who could not afford test expenses would be provided the facility at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital's laboratory free of cost. A 30-beded corona ward has also been established at the hospital as well as 18 ventilators were also available.
Talking to media after the inauguration, Akhtar said that today is a very important day for Karachiites as they got testing and ward at the hospitals courtesy, doctors and paramedics. He said that National Disaster Management Authority provided them testing kits and assured to give same in coming days. We took it as a challenge and completed the task.
"Abbasi Shaheed Hospital is the third largest hospital of Karachi and has well reputed doctors, professor and paramedical staff. It only needs resources, the philanthropists should come forward and provide assistance to the hospital during this pandemic," he added. He said that the philanthropists could also provide required kits and medical equipments instead of cash.
Akhtar was of the view that he had approached federal and provincial governments and sought their help but to no avail. Free of cost testing facility could only be continued through support of the philanthropists, he added.
He said he feels proud that the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation has a team of top doctors and hoped that they would take all possible measures to serve the masses. Abbasi Shaheed Hospital caters three districts: Central, West and East as the poor people of these districts come to these hospitals. The Mayor said that the laboratory was unfunctional since long but now it has been equipped with latest technology as well as the staff was given special training. Those who come with Covid-19 symptoms would be examined and their sample be collected at collection point.
Akhtar also expressed gratitude to NDMA Chairman for providing kits to the KMC. He also thanked Bahria Town head Malik Riaz and said that he has been supporting the deptt for these works and asked him to support the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital even more for betterment.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020