Uzma Siraj
Strict adherence to the standard operating procedures (SOPs) and vigorous vaccination efforts are much needed to prevent rapid and large-scale spread of the Covid-19 new variant Omicron, say health experts and officials in Pakistan. According to various official reports, lack of basic health facilities, insufficient health policies, weak governance, and an indifferent attitude of the public towards general protective measures further worsen the scenario. National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), Pakistan confirmed a total of 1,374,800 COVID-19 cases and 29,105 deaths, with COVID-19 recovered cases being over 1,269,078. A Health Practitioner in Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Dr. Sidra said, “People are not taking Coronavirus seriously due to various misconceptions and lack of awareness regarding COVID.” Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health, Faisal Sultan said the new COVID variant Omicron is spreading rapidly. He urged people to comply with safety measures and get vaccinated as soon as possible. Addressing a news conference in Islamabad a couple of weeks ago, he said, the blatant violation of SOPs, vaccine hesitancy due to misconceptions, and new variants of the virus are the major reasons behind the resurgence of the disease. He said Pakistan cannot take this anymore considering the economic situation of Pakistan. People must follow the basic precautions of wearing masks, observing social distancing, and other rules to keep the economy afloat. He said wear a mask, maintain social distance, wash hands with soap frequently and avoid crowded places. The Special Assistant said Celebrate wedding events but please keep the gatherings limited and take all precautions by following the SoPs. He also urged health regulators to use multiple communication approaches, such as electronic, print and social media, phone messages, and other sources, to increase awareness and improve practices related to COVID-19. In an interview, intellectual writer Naheed Sultana said there are so many educated people who still deny the existence of the coronavirus. She said, “a majority of people are still refusing to wear a face mask. It is easy to close education institutions and shops; however, it is too difficult to ensure that people are following SOPs.” The authorities must take strict action against people who flout SOPs. This is the only way to keep the situation under control, Sultana added. On the other hand, an educationist Shahnaza said that it is a bitter reality that people are not following SOPs in Pakistan, however some people are convinced about it after losing their loved ones during the pandemic. She said people can be leaders within their own family and social groups, to set a good example of positive peer pressure, so I advise my family to follow SOPs as it is the only way to save them from deadly virus.Data suggest that knowledge, awareness, perception, and attitude of the general public regarding disease play an essential role in the control and management of disease as observed in epidemics of SARS and MERS.WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, world is not just fighting an epidemic; we’re fighting an infodemic.Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in Pakistan, UNICEF has been on the forefront supporting the Government of Pakistan to help prevent the spread of the virus. It has supported the national response in Risk Communication and Community Engagement by ensuring timely and accurate information to families and communities and promoting positive behavior towards following of SoPs. UNICEF Representative in Pakistan, Ms. Aida Girma said the spread of COVID-19 can be improved by a diverse set of tools, including continuation of preventive measures such as hand washing, physical distancing and mask wearing, diagnostics and treatments.
