AI urges Pakistan to protect health workers against corona.

ISLAMABAD -- The Amnesty International (AI) South Aisa chapter on Monday urged the Ministry of NationAal Health Services (NHS) to imApartially investigate attacks on healthcare workers performAing duties in novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and proAvide them adequate personal protection equipment (PPE).

A letter written by the office of head of the AI South Aisia chapter to the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) Dr. Zafar Mirza said that 'AmAnesty International urges you to promptly investigate any atAtacks or acts of violence against health workers in a through, inAdependent and impartial manAner, and perpetrators must be brought to account'.

'Make explicit a zero tolerAance attitude to violence and discrimination against health workers may be at additional or specific risk due to their multiAple and interesting identities and this should be factored into the response,' the letter said.

AI also asked the employers, whether public or private, to provide all health workers with adequate PPE to protect themAselves during the COVID-19 pandemic, in line with internaAtional standards.

It also urged to immediateAly put in place protocols to enAsure that managers of all faciliAties where health workers work conduct an analysis of what risks staff face regarding vioAlence and put in place adequate security measures to address these threats.

It also calls to set-up systems to document any violent inciAdents, discrimination andor stigmatization faced by health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and encourage workAers to report such incident promptly.

The head of the AI South Asia Chapter Omer Warraich asked SAPM on NHS Dr. Zafar Mirza that 'I am writing to you out of extreme concerns for the lives and safety of health workers in Pakistan, who have played an extraordinary and critically imAportant role in the response to the COVID-19 outbreak'.

'While everyone...

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