Speaking in a virtual meeting on Thursday attended by Health Minister Saeed Namaki, Commander of Basij (mobilization) Force Brigadier General Gholam Reza Soleimani, presidents of medical sciences universities and commanders of provincial IRGC forces, Major General Salami said the initiative should be pursued in earnest.
He added that people would cooperate in the plan when they see it is being implemented robustly.
The senior commander ordered the provincial IRGC units to set up health bases to help in the efforts to counter the spread of the pandemic.
“We must defeat this virus through a social uprising and an all-out Jihad,” he said.
Major General Salami also appreciated the health officials and medical professionals, including Namaki, for their efforts to confront the coronavirus and helping the people.
The Martyr Soleimani initiative is a door-to-door screening program aimed at countering COVID-19 and implemented with the participation of Basij forces.
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei on Wednesday referred to the recent wave of the coronavirus pandemic as the first and foremost issue of Iran, calling for decisive action and decisions to tackle it.
Placing great emphasis on the fulfilment of duties and the implementation of decisions regarding the pandemic, the Leader said, “COVID-19 is the country’s number one problem today. This is not just in Iran, but almost everywhere in the world. Coronavirus has an outbreak and then it passes on. The number of infected people and the fatalities are truly tragic. It breaks the heart of any human.
“Today, the other issue involving COVID-19 pandemic is the exhaustion of the health workers. In this hot summer, facing such problems day and night brings pressure on them, physically and emotionally. Our thanks don’t really matter. The true thanks come from God Who is watching their efforts.
“The officials’ first duty is to be able to provide free COVID-19 diagnostic testing on a widespread basis for everyone. Both insurance companies and the administration must help with this,” the Leader stressed.