Govt launches programme for overseas health professionals to join fight against COVID-19

The government of Pakistan on Saturday launched the "Yaran-e-Watan" initiative to engage overseas health professionals in the country’s fight against COVID-19.

“Pakistani health professionals are on the frontline in the fight against COVID-19 across the world. They also want to help us combat COVID19 in Pakistan. We have launched Yaran-e-Watan initiative for our overseas health professionals who can now register to volunteer their services,” Prime Minister Imran Khan said in a tweet.

Overseas health professionals can participate in the programme through tele-training sessions, tele-medicine for triage and counselling, public health and research collaborations.

Read also: PM Imran announces launch of 'Corona Relief Tigers' to preempt virus's worst case scenario

According to The News, the programme is a collaborative venture of the Ministry of National Health Services and the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development. 

The "Yaran-e-Watan" platform has been operationalised with support from the International Migration Organisation, the World Health Organisation, and the National Information Board of Technology, the publication said.

‘Overseas Tigers’

Earlier this month, prime minister’s special assistants on Overseas Pakistanis and Youth Affairs, Zulfi Bukhari and Usman Dar, had agreed to include the Pakistani diaspora in the Tiger Relief Force launched by the prime minister to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus in the country by engaging the youth in relief work.

Read also: 90,000 have applied for 'Corona Relief Tigers Force', Usman Dar claims

According to Bukhari, 'Overseas Tigers', would ensure that rations are distributed properly with the help of generous people. The 'Overseas Tigers' would also collect funds from well-known individuals and munificent people, he had said.

"These funds will be used to provide rations to Pakistanis stranded anywhere in the world," Bukhari had added, noting that the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development and the PM's 'Corona Relief Tiger Force' would set up a joint portal for registration.

"The overseas Pakistanis will [also] be able to donate to the PM's Corona Relief Fund through the new website," he had added.