Omicron Alert
No case of Omicron variant reported in KP so far, health dept
PESHAWAR
Following the increasing number of Coronavirus cases and potential threat of Omicron variant, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government issued a threat alert in the province.
The provincial government has decided to speed up the process of vaccination across the province to cope with the rise in the Omicron cases in the country.
It is to note here that so far no Omicron case has been reported in KP. However, all departments of the province have been alerted for mandatory causations and the health department has intensified the testing process.
Timur Saleem Jhagra, minister for health and finance has said that in order to curb the new wave of Corona and the new variant Omicron it is necessary to speed up the process of Corona vaccination.
He said that all those areas where the vaccination process remains slow will be alerted and the public will be encouraged to get vaccinated on an emergency basis.
In a statement issued here, he said that a booster dose has also been introduced in all the vaccination centers of the province from today (Monday) for those above 30 years of age.
Children between the ages of 12 and 18 are already being vaccinated against Pfizer, he added.
Health minister said that the booster dose is free for people over 50 years of age and medical staff, while it is also available free of charge for those with low immunity.
Mr Taimur also shared that individuals who have completed six months after receiving the second dose are eligible for the booster dose.
Health Minister Timur Jhagra said booster dose vaccination was necessary to avoid the new variant of Corona, Omicron. It is pertinent to mention here that the federal government has started administering booster vaccines for people over the age of 30 across the country from today.
According to the National Command and Operations (NCOC) the booster dose will be administered to those who have received the last dose of the vaccine six months in advance.
The NCOC said that due to the increased risk of Omicron cases, the people should strictly follow SOPs and ensure a full dose of vaccination / booster.
First phase of secondary hospitals revamping costing Rs 20bln initiated: Minister
Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health and Finance Minister, Taimur Khan Jhagra said that the first phase of revamping of all secondary hospitals costing Rs 20 Billion across the province has been started.
The Minister said that initiatives have been taken to improve operational status of six secondary care hospitals including Moulvi Gee Hospital, and Naseerullah Babar Hospital in Peshawar, DHQ Haripur, DHQ Charsadda, DHQ Abbottabad and DHA Karak.
Taimur Jhagra said that the revamping and renovation work included availability of medicines, infrastructure improvements, duty roaster rationalisation, improvement in cleanliness, up-gradation of janitorial and security systems, besides ensuring presence of concerned staff.
He said that provincial government has made all health units autonomous by designating financial powers to Medical Superintendents of all DHQs and BHUs throughout the province.
The Minister said that hospital management committees have been constituted with financial ceilings of up to Rs 2 million to cater the need for top-up of medicines, repair and maintenance, and addressing HR shortage for three months.
