Peshawar, Pakistan, 9 July 2020 — An isolation center and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) funded by the European Union (EU) and set up by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Medical Emergency Resilience Foundation (MERF) was inaugurated in Peshawar — located in the north of the country — on Thursday, July 9th, 2020.
Pakistan has become increasingly vulnerable to humanitarian emergencies due to regional instability, climate change and widespread poverty. Now faced with the spread of COVID-19, its healthcare systems are under threat of being stretched beyond limit. The 8 million euros provided by the EU are part of a bigger package targeting the COVID-19 response in Pakistan in order to help contain the spread of the virus, and strengthen health system capacities and infrastructure in Pakistan.
IRC and its partner MERF have a special focus on supporting government isolation facilities. Along with this, they have designed comprehensive mass awareness campaigns across Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, to bring knowledge about prevention and protection to the public.
This is the first isolation center being set up under this project, initially with a capacity of a five-bed ICU, 16 high dependency units, and 40-bed isolation capacity. The facility is fully equipped with ventilators, monitors, oxygen, ABG machines, infusion pumps and other accessary equipment to manage hypoxemic respiratory failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), septic shock, and other related complications resulting from COVID-19. There is also a special emphasis on accessibility provisions for the elderly and persons with disabilities.
IRC and MERF will be establishing two more Intensive Care Units (ICU) and accompanied isolation centers in Quetta and Karachi. Moreover, the initiative project will also support provision of much needed human resources, including managers, doctors, specialists and support staff. The center will facilitate 45,000 screening tests across designated districts and sites, provide mental health and psychosocial support services, and equip government centers with essential medical equipment and supplies, including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Mahmood Khan, the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said:
"Today, the Provincial Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa takes the concept of Public-Private partnership to the next level. Masses from all across the province will be able to get top-notch treatment right here in Peshawar, at no cost to them. This was the dream of the PTI Government and the Prime Minister, Imran Khan, to ensure world class medical access to the common man, for free. I would like to thank the EU, IRC and MERF for helping us realise this dream."
The International Rescue Committee partners with the European Union to provide life-saving support to people caught in conflict and disasters around the world. Our work funded by the EU enables people to survive, recover and rebuild their lives.