CHITRAL: During the first Covid-19 wave, the district administration enjoyed the active support of national and international non-governmental organisations in containing the contagion in Chitral.

A senior health department official told Dawn on condition of anonymity that the collaboration ranged from dissemination of mass education about the pandemic, strengthening of government healthcare facilities, setting up of emergency response centres (ERCs) equipped with ventilators, and diagnostic centres.

He said no coronavirus case was reported in Chitral for two months during the first wave, and mortality rate also remained very low compared to the other neighbouring districts thanks to the effective efforts launched by the administration with the help of NGOs.

The official said the most crucial dimension of the pandemic was return of locals from different parts of the country by May, who were the potential carriers of coronavirus.

“They were reluctant to quarantine themselves on arrival and other villagers also did not like to come to hospitals even after they showed some symptoms of the disease.

However, the NGOs helped the administration create awareness among the people about the pandemic,” the official added.

Teams of doctors, nurses and laboratory staff periodically visited the remote villages of all the sub-valleys of Yakhoon, Laspur, Torkhow, Mulkhow, Karimabad, Garam Chashma, Madak Lusht and Arandu, examining the suspected patients, collecting their swab samples and testing them in laboratories, the official said, adding this intervention saved the government hospitals in Chitral, Booni and Drosh from the anticipated rush.

An NGO set up a Covid-19 diagnosis facility for the first time in Booni medical centre in Upper Chitral, where samples were taken from suspected patients and sent to the health department’s central laboratory in Peshawar.

Amirullah Khan, a former district councillor from Upper Chitral, said the modern emergency response centres set up at Booni, Garam Chashma and Mastuj coupled with isolation centers established by Aga Khan Health Service (AKHS) proved a blessing for the region hitherto deprived of such medical facilities.

He said even Wi-Fi internet facility was provided in the Booni ERC apart from free food for the staff and medicines.

Upper Chitral deputy commissioner Shah Saud told Dawn that support of AKHS during the first wave provided helpful in containing the virus in the district.

He said apart from its regular staff AKHS hired additional doctors, nurses and paramedics for coping with the pandemic.

Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2020