PESHAWAR: The Ulema (religious scholars) on Saturday assured the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government of full support in implementation of standard operating procedure (SOPs) to stem the spread of coronavirus and educating people about challenges due to second wave of the virus.

The Auqaf, Hajj, Religious and Minorities Affairs Department convened a meeting of Ulema for devising a strategy for tackling the threat of COVID-19 and ensuring the compliance of SOPs. The meeting was chaired by Secretary Auqaf, Hajj, Religious and Minorities Affairs Department Shahid Sohail and attended by Chief Khateeb Maulana Muhammad Ismail, district/tehsil Khutaba, religious leaders of Auqaf Department and other officials.

During the meeting, the secretary Auqaf Department informed the participants about the grim situation and severity of coronavirus pandemic and elaborated the role of Ulema in educating and convincing the masses to follow precautionary measures devised by the government.

The secretary highlighted the importance of Auqaf Department to ensure implementation of SOPs and monitoring. Chief Khateeb Auqaf Department said that all eyes were on Ulema in the present situation and they should become a role model for the nation.

Mufti Shafiullah, District Khateeb Kohat, proposed that the respective district administrations may also be directed to simultaneously ensure of precautionary measures in markets and religious seminaries.

Maulana Tayyeb Qureshi, Imam of the historical Masjid Mahabat Khan, assured the government of unconditional support of Ulema in the fight against coronavirus and informed that all Ulema in the country are united and agreed on this issue. At the end of the meeting, the secretary said that guidelines chalked out after consultation with Ulema would be shared with the government for effective implementation of SOPs against coronavirus.

Infection prevention control workshop in KTH

Khyber Medical University (KMU) in collaboration with World Health Organisation Saturday organised an infection prevention and control training workshop in Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH) Peshawar.

The training was aimed at developing infection prevention and control teams in each unit of hospital by giving orientation to doctors, nurses and paramedical staff of different units enabling them to implement and evaluate infection prevention and control in the units.

Master trainers Dr Awais Naeem, Dr Fahad Naeem, Dr Hamza Ali Khan and Nursing Manager Azmat Pasha introduced basic concepts of infection protection to participants and practical aspects of disinfection, sterilisation, environmental cleaning, health case waste management, hand hygiene protocol, transport and burial in context of COVID-19 and protection of health workers.