Tag: healthcare workers

  • No ban on diapers, sanitary pads, their raw material, clarifies Miftah Ismail

    No ban on diapers, sanitary pads, their raw material, clarifies Miftah Ismail

    Finance Minister Miftah Islamail has clarified there is no import ban on sanitary pads or their raw materials.

    “There is no ban on any industrial raw material. The ban is only on some luxury or non-essential goods. And there is certainly no ban on sanitary pads or diapers (or their raw materials), which are obviously essential goods. We will issue further official clarification on Monday.”

    Head of the Prime Minister’s Strategic Reforms, Salman Sufi, tweeted that the news circulating regarding ban on saintry pads is “absolutely incorrect”.

    “Women’s health is of paramount importance and shall never be compromised,” said Sufi.

    It was reported earlier that government has added raw materials for sanitary napkins to the list of non-essential luxury items in its recent import ban, which will affect the production of pads in Pakistan.

    A major chunk of sanitary napkins is produced by two companies in Pakistan — P&G and Santex, which make Always and Butterfly respectively. The production of sanitary napkins of one of these brands has been majorly affected, reports Dawn.

    “Though all of our products are produced in Pakistan, two of the core raw materials that form the base of the napkin are imported. The ban would mean the factory would have to shut down eventually because we can’t manufacture them anymore after the current supply runs out,” said Muhammad Kamran, Chief Operating Officer of Santex while talking to Dawn.

    The main components in question, he explained, are sap paper and wadding cellulose fibre. These items are classified as HS Code 4803.000, which is prohibited under the new import ban according to the Ministry of Commerce.

    “[These] are basic raw materials utilised in the manufacturing of female sanitary napkins. These items are neither tissues nor luxury but are included in S.No 63 of the SRO,” he added.

     “We’ve sent an application to the Ministry of Commerce that will take 15 to 20 days to review. We’re hoping for a positive response.”

    Read more- Govt bans import of ‘luxury items’ to fight economic crisis

    On May 19, 2022, the federal cabinet issued a list of 41 items, which will be banned from being imported for two months. This is in an attempt to address the current account deficit.

  • How to reuse N95, KN95, and other disposable Masks- A complete guideline

    How to reuse N95, KN95, and other disposable Masks- A complete guideline

    It is very troublesome for people to change their masks after a single-use. We will explain how you can reuse the recommended masks — N95, KN95, and disposable masks to prevent coronavirus.

    How can you reuse masks?

    For healthcare workers, it is recommended that they can reuse N95 masks while keeping them in brown paper bags after each use.

    How safe is it to reuse masks during increased cases of the Omicron variant of Covid?

    Yes, it’s totally safe to reuse masks if you handle them with care. You are required to touch the elastic of the mask only while covering your face and afterwards you can wash your hands.

    How to use your mask if it gets wet?

    Mask is wearable again if it gets wet due to condensation of your breathing but make sure to keep the masks in the paper bag in a dry spot, ideally by a sunny window, to decontaminate. It can help enhance the viral-deactivation process.

    However, if your mask is drenched during rain, you need to throw it away immediately because moisture degrades the mask little by little.

    Don’t try to wash your masks

    If you are thinking of washing or disinfecting your masks, you cannot use absolutely any kind of bleach or alcohol for washing. You can use the paper bag method for sanitising as it is less expensive and easy to use. It has fewer chances of damaging the mask effectively.

    What is the right time to throw away your mask?

    The United States (US) organisation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests throwing your N95 mask after five times’ use for health workers. However, for other people, you can reuse the mask until the elastic strings become loose to fit and if the fabric looks clean and provides good airflow. You can only throw the disposable masks immediately where you are present in a highly ineffective area or you met with a Covid-positive person.

    It is important to know that dust, air pollutants, pollen, make-up, skin oils, inactivated virus accumulate and block the filters.

  • NCOC approves booster shot for healthcare workers, those over 50 and immunocompromised people

    NCOC approves booster shot for healthcare workers, those over 50 and immunocompromised people

    National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Wednesday approved a booster shot of Covid-19 vaccines for healthcare workers, those aged over 50 years, and immunocompromised people.

    A meeting of the NCOC, chaired by Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives and NCOC chief Asad Umar, announced to have launched a special vaccination drive in the country from today, December 1.

    The NCOC said that the vaccination teams will remain present at public places to ensure the vaccination of each and every individual.

    “People will be vaccinated on the spot if found unvaccinated,” it said.

    Provincial health ministers and chief secretaries gave presentations during the meeting, highlighting initiatives taken to boost the vaccination campaign, improve testing numbers and establish call centres.

    “All provinces will start vaccination outreach campaigns immediately to [achieve] the vaccination targets,” the statement added.

    The forum instructed the provincial representatives to focus on the spread of the new variant, Omicron.

  • COVID-19: Flight carrying medical supplies from China draws heart over hospitals for healthcare workers

    COVID-19: Flight carrying medical supplies from China draws heart over hospitals for healthcare workers

    A pilot of Icelendair —  flag carrier airline of Iceland — has drawn a heart in the sky over hospitals in the capital city of Reykjavík to thank healthcare workers for their bravery and dedication during the coronavirus pandemic.

    According to The Reykjavík Grapevine — an Icelandic magazine –, during a recent flight from China, the anonymous pilot of the Boeing 767 aircraft drew a large heart with the plane’s flight path. It was an important journey of nearly 5,600 miles, as the Icelendair flight was importing much-needed medical supplies.

    Before the flight landed, the plane doubled back to doodle a heart above two of the capital city’s hospitals. Though the change in course reportedly added another nine minutes to the flight, it was a heartfelt salute for the nation’s healthcare personnel.

    The plane marked the last of three flights from China that have carried a total of some 50 tonnes of various medical supplies, including masks and protective suits, intended for Iceland’s healthcare workers treating those infected with the coronavirus.

    As of Wednesday, 1,778 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus had been reported in Iceland. The viral disease has also claimed the lives of at least ten people in the Nordic island nation.