The country representative of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Palitha Gunarathna Mahipala, has expressed satisfaction with the arrangements for screening people from abroad at Jinnah International Airport.
“I spent almost an hour at Karachi International Airport and I am very happy with the screening arrangements at the airport. There are two settings for the screening and they are quite satisfactory. I have made some suggestions to the authorities, but overall I am satisfied with the arrangements satisfied,”said Dr. Palitha when he spoke to The News late Thursday after completing his visit to the airport.
Upon arrival at the airport, the WHO official visited the checkpoints installed in the international arrival hall. He also met with health workers and airport officials, praising their efforts to prevent suspected COVID-19 patients from entering the country undetected.
Accompanied by Dr. Sara Salman, a WHO official from her Karachi sub-office, representatives of the Sindh Ministry of Health and others, visited Dr. Palitha’s screening controls were carried out by both the Sindh Health Department and the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Islamabad. and praised the health workers and paramedics for their willingness and commitment.
He also examined an expanded isolation facility set up in tents at the airport, hoping that this would help keep suspect passengers isolated until they were brought to hospitals for testing and treatment.
WHO officials said Dr. Palitha will also visit some important health facilities in Karachi to check their readiness after the COVID 19 outbreak. He would also hold meetings with provincial health officials, including Sindh Health Minister Dr. Azra Pechuho and Minister of Health Zahid Ali Abbasi.
