ISLAMABAD: While expressing concern over rise in the number of Covid-19 cases following emergence of the Omicron variant in Pakistan, stakeholders have emphasised the need for making coordinated efforts by the government as well as private organisations to effectively cope with the situation.

They expressed these remarks while speaking at an event organised by an Italian organisation to reflect upon lessons learnt during implementation of the project ‘Improving National Capacity to Respond to Covid-19 Pandemic in Pakistan’. All provinces were targeted during the course of the project.

The project was funded by the European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (Echo) for a duration of 18 months.

Speaking on the occasion, Parliamentary Secretary Health Dr Nausheen Hamid said the government made significant efforts to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

“Soon after emergence of the pandemic, the government responded efficiently through up-gradation of testing labs and installation of mobile testing laboratories at border crossings,” she said, adding that for real-time monitoring and response, the efforts of National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) and Central Health

Administration Department are also commendable.

Dr Stephen Langrell, team leader, Rural Development and Economic Cooperation section of the European Union Pakistan, said 2.5 million people across Pakistan were provided assistance during testing times.

Earlier, country director of the Italian organisation, Farhan Ahmed Khan, while giving an overview of the project, said it was implemented successfully to strengthen the capacity of health care providers and equip high dependency and intensive care units in 324 healthcare facilities in the provinces.

Besides, a panel discussion was also held in which country directors of all seven consortium partners shared their field experiences, practices and key challenges experienced during implementation of the project.

Published in Dawn, January 19th, 2022