SPO signs MOU with Rawalpindi Medical University (RMU)
RAWALPINDI: Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO), one of Pakistan’s leading civil society organizations, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Rawalpindi Medical University today for SPO to install 10 hand washing booths at the Holy Family Hospital in Rawalpindi for maximum utility and prevention of the further spread of COVID-19. The placements of the hand washing booths will be as such; 2 near the main emergency, 2 at the Gynecology/Pediatrics Emergency, 2 near patient/attendants waiting areas and 4 in the Rawalpindi Institute of Urology which is currently being utilized as a COVID-19 Response Center. SPO’s objective for providing hand washing facilities is for the benefit and safety of patients, attendants and frontline healthcare workers against COVID-19.
Present to sign the MOU were SPO’s Chief Executive Ms. Arifa Mazhar, SPO’s Head of Program Ms. Shazia Shaheen and the Vice Chancellor of Rawalpindi who is also the MD of Holy Family and RIU Dr. Muhammad Umar. Dr. Muhammad Umar applauded SPO’s initiative to provide hand washing facilities in government owned hospitals where health workers and patients need such facilities to prevent the spreading of diseases. He also said that “such facilities will also bring about a behavioral change amongst the masses and that through awareness we can introduce best hygiene practices that will benefit us in the longer run.”
SPO’s Head of Program Ms. Shazia Shaheen appreciated the support of Dr. Muhammad Umar and applauded the dedicated efforts of frontline healthcare workers across Pakistan. Ms. Shazia Shaheen said “this intervention will help SPO to support on-going efforts to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 through the provision of hand washing facilities at public locations such as public hospitals, government led shelter homes and langar khanas. SPO looks forward to more collaborations with the government health institutes to further build their capacities and ability to respond to such health emergencies.”