Usama Riaz | |
---|---|
Born | 1993/1994 |
Died | 23 March 2020 (aged 26) |
Cause of death | COVID-19 |
Nationality | Pakistani |
Occupation | Physician |
Known for | His work during the COVID-19 pandemic |
Usama Riaz ( Urdu: اسامہ ریاض; 1993 – 23 March 2020) was a Pakistani physician from Gilgit-Baltistan. [1]
During his career, Riaz screened pilgrims who had returned to Pakistan from Iran. [2]
He also treated people in intensive care diagnosed with COVID-19, despite lacking personal protective equipment, [3] [4] which increased his personal risk. [5] [6]
Riaz died on 23 March 2020, from COVID-19 complications at the age of 26. [5] Riaz was the first Pakistani doctor to die from the virus. [7]
On 27 March 2020, he was posthumously awarded the Nishan-e-Kashmir, the highest award of the state, by Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir for his services. [1] Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman, Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan called his death a "national tragedy". [8]
was screening pilgrims who had returned to Pakistan from Iran
Medical professionals have criticised the lack of protective clothing provided to frontline staff . "to work without protective equipment is suicide."
He put his life on the line to treat patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Dr. Riaz did not have adequate protective gear to ensure his own safety while treating patients that had tested positive. Nevertheless, he kept fighting for his patients, until the virus claimed his life. "Pakistani medical officials are calling on the government to provide more protective gear to doctors so they don't have to suffer the same fate as Riaz. It is like suicide to treat patients without protection". Dr. Riaz is an example of the lengths that doctors traverse to save lives, sometimes at the cost of their own.
Usama Riaz | |
---|---|
Born | 1993/1994 |
Died | 23 March 2020 (aged 26) |
Cause of death | COVID-19 |
Nationality | Pakistani |
Occupation | Physician |
Known for | His work during the COVID-19 pandemic |
Usama Riaz ( Urdu: اسامہ ریاض; 1993 – 23 March 2020) was a Pakistani physician from Gilgit-Baltistan. [1]
During his career, Riaz screened pilgrims who had returned to Pakistan from Iran. [2]
He also treated people in intensive care diagnosed with COVID-19, despite lacking personal protective equipment, [3] [4] which increased his personal risk. [5] [6]
Riaz died on 23 March 2020, from COVID-19 complications at the age of 26. [5] Riaz was the first Pakistani doctor to die from the virus. [7]
On 27 March 2020, he was posthumously awarded the Nishan-e-Kashmir, the highest award of the state, by Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir for his services. [1] Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman, Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan called his death a "national tragedy". [8]
was screening pilgrims who had returned to Pakistan from Iran
Medical professionals have criticised the lack of protective clothing provided to frontline staff . "to work without protective equipment is suicide."
He put his life on the line to treat patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Dr. Riaz did not have adequate protective gear to ensure his own safety while treating patients that had tested positive. Nevertheless, he kept fighting for his patients, until the virus claimed his life. "Pakistani medical officials are calling on the government to provide more protective gear to doctors so they don't have to suffer the same fate as Riaz. It is like suicide to treat patients without protection". Dr. Riaz is an example of the lengths that doctors traverse to save lives, sometimes at the cost of their own.