KARACHI: The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) marked 30th October as the “International Day of the Medical Profession”, an initiative approved by World Medical Association at its General Assembly in Cordoba 2020 that distinguishes and celebrates the efforts of all medical professionals in the International Medical Fraternity.
The PMA recognizes the services of the medical professionals and pays tribute to all the physicians in service of humankind, the health and well-being of their patients, and in solidarity with the ethical values of the profession.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic struck, medical professionals have been serving the sick with dedication and due diligence, at risk to their own lives. So far, thousands of doctors have lost their lives due to the pandemic worldwide. On this particular day, the PMA paid tribute to all doctors, nurses and paramedics who have left this world due to the pandemic. They served humanity with great courage as frontline soldiers and fought till their last breath.
On this occasion, the PMA also applauded the services of Healthcare workers in Pakistan. They have been serving the nation fearlessly since the pandemic reached Pakistan in February 2020. They had boldly participated in the war against Covid-19 as frontline soldiers, putting themselves under immense pressure. Their families remain at risk.
So far, 229 doctors have gained the status of ‘Shahadat’ (Martyrdom) due to COVID-19. Punjab lost 78 healthcare workers, Sindh lost 84, KPK lost 57, Balochistan lost six, Azad Jammu & Kashmir lost three, and Gilgit-Baltistan lost one healthcare professional. 31 paramedics have also been deemed as ‘shaheed’ in the frontline.
The PMA salute all those healthcare workers who died of Covid-19 while helping those suffering throughout the world.