The leading doctors of the country told Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah to extend the period of the lockdown in the province or the spread of the coronavirus would spiral out of control.
This emerged on Tuesday during a meeting the chief minister held with the prominent doctors of the country at the CM House.
The chief minister told the participants of the meeting that he wanted their support, cooperation and guidance to fight the coronavirus. "This is why I have bothered you here," he said. All the doctors lauded the efforts and prompt action of the chief minister and said had he not taken timely measures the situation would have been much worse.
They told the chief minister to not to relax the lockdown when it expires on April 14. If the lockdown were to be withdrawn or relaxed the virus would spread like a fire in the jungle, they warned the government.
"A large population of the city consists of slum dwellers. They live in small houses with large families. They travel in crowded buses," said the doctors. It was highly likely that they would contract the coronavirus and then carry the virus to their homes and transmit it to their family members, they said.
The chief minister said that he would consult with his cabinet members and other stakeholders and convey to them the doctors' concerns. All the doctors, who also happened to be owners and CEOs of some of the city's prominent private hospitals, assured the chief minister of their support, saying they would provide the government with equipments, manpower and other support.
Meanwhile, the chief minister formed a committee headed by Health Minister Dr Azra Pechuho which would include Dr Asim Hussain and Dr Sadia Virk to draw a plan on how to tackle the situation.
Those who attended the meeting were Dr Abdul Bari, CEO of Indus Hospital, Rehan Baloch, EOC Coordinator, Dr Asim Hussain of Ziauddin Hospital, Dr Syed Junaid Shah of A.O. Clinic, Dr Saadia Virk of South City Hospital, Dr Umer Jang of NMC, Dr Bilal Faiz of Creek General Hospital, Dr. Farhan Essa Abdullah, CEO Essa Laboratory, Dr Tahir Yousuf of Tahir Medical Center, Manhaj Qudwai, CEO Health Care Commission, Jawad Amin Khan, Commissioner SHCC, Dr Ali Imam of Imam Clinic, Ali Farhan of Darul Sehat, Dr Salman Fareedi of LNH, Zerkais Ankleseria of Ankleseria Hospital, Brig. Dr Waqar of Memon Medical Institute, Dr Mazhar Nizam of Patel Hospital, Commodore Kamran Khan, AKU, and Dr Sadiq Ansari.