ADB, SDC help Pakistan's health service academy deliver COVID-19 critical care training.

ISLAMABAD -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Health Services Academy of Pakistan Wednesday signed a contract agreement to strengthen Pakistan's public health response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and to support frontline health workers by providing a national rapid critical care trainings program.

The Vice Chancellor of the Health Services Academy Dr. Assad Hafeez and ADB Country Director for Pakistan Xiaohong Yang signed the contract agreement in Islamabad.

'The COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose a major health care challenge to the people and the Government of Pakistan. The training program being led by the Health Services Academy will help boost the critical care system's efficiency and the capacity of the health workers in responding to the current emergency situation and future critical care needs,' said Ms. Yang.

The training program envisages the rapid capacity development of 4,500 doctors and paramedical staff in critical care management and handling of COVID-19 patients in the country's hospitals and health care centers.

The basic assessment and support in intensive care program is based on a course outline developed in 2004 in response to SARS by the University of Hong Kong and has been updated in response to COVID-19 spread.

The 10-day course involves eight days for...