STRENGTHENING OF COVID-19 AND OTHER INFECTIVE DISEASE RESPONSE CAPACITY IN BALOCHISTAN

During COVID-19 Pandemic the Country was in need of urgent measures through additional resources for strengthening the real time surveillance and early detection, containment of potential COVID-19 cases, and embedding of prevention and control measures to halt / minimize local transmission, so that the Healthcare Systems do not buckle under pressure, and the country does not face a situation similar to the one faced by some countries, which are most affected by the pandemic. A number of urgent preventions, detection and response measures were required to manage the ongoing outbreak. This entails requisite Healthcare Systems strengthening, establishing isolation rooms, measures for Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) teams and processes, timely diagnostics and critical care/case management across healthcare facilities, field surveillance for timely detection, provision of PPEs, clinical equipment and diagnostic equipment’s. Furthermore, the accompanying process of patient’s transport from their homes (Ambulance, own car etc. to a triaging and assessment area and then to the isolation room) including the whole health economy’s staff protocols for this have to be laid out across the country through processes that are aligned with requisite protocols/ guidelines. Keeping in view the situation the health system was strengthen in Baluchistan under the project through the emergency equipment’s likewise ventilators, ambulances, CT Scan, PPEs, etc. The project significantly improved the Healthcare System's ability to respond health emergencies in Baluchistan. The project is enhancing the Tertiary Health Care system in Baluchistan’s Teaching Hospitals, and District Headquarter Hospitals. Under said project, these hospitals have upgraded by essential Specialized Medical Equipment and the region will be better prepared to handle COVID-19 and other health threats, ensuring quicker and more effective response in future.