A 26-year-old Pakistani doctor has become the country’s first medic to die after contracting the novel coronavirus while treating the COVID-19 patients in Gilgit region, officials said on Monday.
UsmaRiazwas treating the patients who recently returned from Iraq and Iran.
Riaz waspart of a 10-member team of the doctors tasked with screening patients returningfrom downtowns, particularly those arriving there from Iran via Taftan. Helater started providing services to the suspected patients in isolation centresestablished for them in Gilgit.
Riazbelonged to Chilas in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). He came home on Friday night butcould not get the next day. He was first rushed to a military hospital and thento district hospital. He was put on ventilator and died on Sunday, according tohis family.
GB government spokespersonFaizullahFaraq confirmed the death of the young physician who is the firstdoctor to die in the battle against the deadly virus.
“It iswith extreme sadness that the Gilgit-Baltistan health department confirms thatUsamaRiaz who played a key role in the war against coronavirus has passed away,”the GB government tweeted on Monday.
“Usamaproved himself the real hero by sacrificing his life to save others,” GBInformation Minister Shams Mir said.
Meanwhile,the Pakistan Medical Association of Gilgit-Baltistan (PMA G-B) in reaction toRiaz’s death accused the government of negligence towards the safety ofdoctors.
“Riaz hadcontracted COVID-19 due to the negligence of government and its healthdepartment,” President PMA G-B Zulfiqar Ali said.
“Wewill again see what the issue is, and if they (quarantined pilgrims) needfurther treatment, they will be shifted to DHQ (District Headquarter Hospital)or city hospital, but if they can be treated here, we will provide treatment tothem here.”
The region in north of Pakistan along border with China has so far reported 55 cases.