PESHAWAR: Coronavirus claimed 23 more lives, including an additional assistant commissioner’s, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Tuesday with Peshawar recording 13 deaths.

According to a health department report, two people died of the virus in Nowshera and Charsadda each and one in Mardan, Swabi, Bajaur, Abbottabad, Haripur and Dera Ismail Khan each.

Among the deceased was Shamsul Islam, an additional assistant commissioner of Peshawar district, who breathed his last in the Hayatabad Medical Complex after remaining under treatment for one week.

The province recorded 385 new Covid-19 cases, including 133 in Peshawar, 41 Bannu, 31 Dera Ismail Khan, 26 Karak, 23 Kohat, 16 Lakki Marwat and 13 Charsadda.

Until now, 3,827 coronavirus-related deaths and 127,609 cases have been reported in the province. Of the cases, 116,601 have recovered.

CM gives away cheques to families of health workers

The report said currently, the province had 7,181 active coronavirus cases.

Also in the day, Chief Minister Mahmood Khan gave away cheques of financial compensation under Shuhada Package to the heirs of nine frontline health workers, who lost life to Covid-19 on duty in public sector hospitals of the province.

The cheque distribution ceremony was held at the Chief Minister’s House, where health minister Taimur Saleem Jhagra, health secretary Imtiaz Hussain Shah and senior officials were also in attendance.

Until now, the families of 10 frontline health workers have been provided with financial assistance. They include the heirs of Dr Mohammad Javed, the first doctor in the province to be killed by the virus.

Under the Shuhada Package, the family of every frontline health worker has received Rs7 million.

On the occasion, the chief minister said six more cheques would be distributed very soon to the families of frontline health workers.

He also said families of the remaining health workers would be compensated under the Shuhada Package.

Mr Mahmood paid tribute to doctors and other health workers for their services and sacrifices during the Covid-19 pandemic and said frontline health workers sacrificed their lives to save others’.

“The services and sacrifices of health workers for humanity will be remembered forever,” he said.

The chief minister said his government appreciated and valued the services being rendered by health workers to control and prevent coronavirus.

He said the vaccination of health workers had almost been completed and that the personal protective equipment and other safety kits were being provided to them on priority basis for protection from the virus.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Doctors’ Association thanked the chief minister for the initiative and urged the government to give financial assistance to all 103 health workers, who died of the virus, and announce risk allowance for all health professionals.

In a statement, the PDA said 103 health workers had so far lost life to coronavirus in the province and they included 67 doctors, 16 paramedics, seven nurses and 13 Class-IV employees.

It requested the provincial government to compensate families of all such health workers under the Shuhada Package in a speedy manner.

The PDA also called for the provision of risk allowance to all health workers during the pandemic.

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2021