Dr Abdul Qadir Soomro, a senior doctor and a leading dermatologist breathed his last on Monday after getting infected with coronavirus in Karachi, raising the death toll of health professionals dying from the pandemic to three in the country.
Soomro was diagnosed with the coronavirus on April 2 after which he was shifted to a local hospital. Earlier, as a frontline doctor, he had helped to establish a special ward for the coronavirus patients in Al-Khidmat Hospital.
Dr. Abdul Qadir Soomro was the former head of Pakistan Medical Islamic Association and former medical superintendent at Steel Mills Hospital. Senior politicians and government officials have condoled his death and recalled his valuable services for the health sector in Pakistan.
Deeply saddened over the passing of Dr.Abdul Qadir Soomro. #Doctors are our 1st line of defence in facing this #pandemic. The best tribute we can pay this #frontline hero is to continue fighting this deadly #virus. May Allah rest his soul in peace &ease his family’s pain -Aameen
— Murad Ali Shah (@MuradAliShahPPP) April 6, 2020
Pakistan People’s Party leaders including chief minister Sindh, Murad Ali Shah, Sherry Rehman, and Nafisa Shah have expressed deep sorrow and grief on the demise of Dr.Abdul Qadir Soomro.
Dr Soomro has served as a skin specialist and family physician for 38 years. His death has spiked fear and concerns among the doctors across Pakistan. Medical professionals have complained about life risk while treating coronavirus patients without personal protective equipment.
Doctors from all the provinces have condemned the apathy of the government officials for overlooking their safety and security. By ignoring their calls to provide them with protective equipment, the government is denying them safety and security, argues the young doctors.
Read more: Alice Wells condoles the death of Pakistani national hero Dr. Usama Riaz
Yesterday, the provincial police of Balochistan arrested dozens of doctors protesting over the lack of safety equipment in Quetta. Police baton-charged the furious doctors and arrested fifty-three doctors in a bid to quell the demonstration.
The young doctors have even threatened to stop working if the government does not provide them with safety equipment.
A doctor and a nurse in Pakistan have already lost their lives due to coronavirus last month.
Deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Dr. Abdul Qadir Soomro. His passing is a huge loss to our healthcare system. May Allah give sabar to his family and loved ones. Ameen.
— Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho (@AzraPechuho) April 6, 2020
Usama Riaz, a 26-year-old doctor from Chillas, was among the 10-member team of doctors assigned with the screening of pilgrims returning from Iran. He later started to treat suspected coronavirus patients at the isolation center established in Gilgit.
His colleagues informed that Dr Usama Riaz relentlessly served the coronavirus patients and risked his health. He spent three days on the ventilator before his dead.