PESHAWAR: The United States Government, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), delivered its most recent shipment of emergency medical supplies to Pakistan on Saturday in continuing joint effort to combat the scourge of the coronavirus pandemic.

This latest airlift included more than one million pieces of critical personal protective equipment, which is necessary to help protect Pakistan’s frontline healthcare workers and medical professionals, says a press release.

“Today (Saturday), the United States is pleased to support the Government of Pakistan in protecting the country’s frontline healthcare workers in the fight against COVID-19,” said USAID Mission Director Julie Koenen.

“During this unprecedented time, the United States will continue to work together with Pakistan to provide critically needed medical supplies,” said the USAID mission director.

Earlier in June, USAID delivered a shipment of protective equipment and fingertip oximeters to be delivered to Pakistani healthcare facilities throughout the country. The donation also included $3.5 million in additional funding for local procurement of health-related supplies to support the overall COVID-19 response.

Since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, the United States has delivered $49.7 million in assistance through this partnership with the Government of Pakistan. Last July, USAID provided 200 ventilators and trained more than 600 health workers in 64 Pakistani hospitals. In addition, USAID has improved and expanded laboratory testing, disease monitoring, case tracking in all districts, infection prevention and control, and patient care.

Corona vaccination continues in KP

Vaccination of citizens and health workers of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa against COVID-19 is underway with a total of 394,466 people having been vaccinated.

According to the report of the KP Health Department, individuals have been given a second dose of cianopharm. As many as 648,728 health workers and the elderly have been given the first dose of sinovac and 62,038 health workers and elderly people have been given the second dose of sinovac with 142,056 health workers and the elderly people have been given the first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine.

Shortage of vaccine has also been reported from some parts of KP, but officials say they are confident the shortage will be overcome soon with arrival of more consignments from abroad.

 

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