LAHORE: Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) Chairman Abrarul Haq on Thursday announced a cash assistance package for journalists, paramedics, orphans, widows, people with special needs, artists and daily wagers affected by coronavirus pandemic across the country.

He was addressing a press conference along with PRCS Secretary General Khalid Bin Majeed here at a local hotel on Thursday.

He said that healthcare workers and journalists have been in the forefront of the fight against Covid-19 and a number of those have even lost their lives in the line of duty.

He said coronavirus has affected all sectors of the economy and media industry is no exception to it.

He said hundreds of journalists have been left unemployed amid this national crisis while scores are facing salary cuts and delays.

Mr Haq said keeping in view the challenges in the wake of the pandemic, the PRCS has decided to launch a special programme to provide cash assistance and food packages to journalists, healthcare workers, orphans, widows, special persons, artists and daily wagers affected by the coronavirus.

He said under the programme, cash assistance to each family besides ration packs will be provided to those badly hit by the pandemic.

He said since the outbreak of coronavirus in Pakistan in February this year, the PRCS has been sparing no effort to augment the government’s endeavors to contain the pandemic.

He said a 120-bed Red Crescent Corona Care Hospital was established in Rawalpindi in a record period of 18 days, which is operational since April 2020 and hundreds of patients have been treated there.

He said the three-floor hospital, equipped with 15 ventilators, oxygen support for 90 beds and other facilities, has been set up in accordance with the recommendations of the Chinese health experts.

The PRCS chairman said under the Corona Muhafiz Response Campaign, the Red Crescent Muhafiz Force has been mobilized to connect the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’ in the fight against pandemic. During their door-to-door campaign in multiple cities across the country, the Muhafiz volunteers made sure that no family is left hungry as they motivated the affluent families to share food with their deserving neighbors.

Mr Majeed said in order to boost the testing capacity for Covid-19, the PRCS in collaboration with the Indus Hospital has opened a walk-in sample collection centre in Karachi, where people with symptoms can get themselves tested free of cost.

He said the PRCS Virtual Call Center (Helpline 1030) at the NHQ is providing awareness to the public on preventive measures against the pandemic. The Covid-19 AAGAHI Call Center established at Karachi PHQ is operational 24/7 and provides guidance to the communities. A PRCS Tele Medicine Center is also operational in the merged areas.

Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2020