Health Minister Zahid Maleque has said there are no shortage of medical supplies and facilities in Bangladesh to fight the global outbreak of coronavirus
He made the statement during the daily online press briefing conducted by Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) in Dhaka’s Mohakhali area on Monday.
The minister said to the media they are doing a great job by providing information, however, it is not right to publish news saying “there are shortage” as this creates fear among the citizens.
“There is no shortage of kits, PPE (personal protective equipment) and treatment facilities, and enough arrangements have been made to conduct as much test as required. People should have this information to get assured,” he added.
Current situation in Bangladesh
Zahid said: “Our country is now in a better situation and safer condition. Prime minister is always guiding us and we are also discussing things with her. Hopefully, Bangladesh will be able to overcome the coronavirus crisis, as well as the whole world.”
“Bangladesh took early measures and till now we have been able to manage the crisis well, by doing things in comparatively better ways. We hope to do far better in future and there is no need to be afraid,” he added.
Around 200 new intensive care units (ICU) have been installed in hospitals concerned, including the Kuwait Bangladesh Friendship Government Hospital. These new ICUs have ventilator and dialysis facilities, said the minister.
Meanwhile, 11 labs are working to detect coronavirus patients and we have taken the decision to establish 17 more labs so more tests can be conducted at a time, he added.
The minister said we have also provided special trainings to sample collectors and technicians and have increased the number of testing facilities.
However, we have observed the number of people interested to do testing are fewer in areas of Chittagong and Cox's Bazar, he added.
Zahid suggested that even though the government will provide PPE if needed, doctors and health service providers should not waste them.
He said, "We have information of doctors not being present in their chambers. We expect everyone to do their job and be present in respective workplaces."
“We do not want anyone to remain untreated,” the minister added.
However, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said tests to detect Covid-19 infection are being conducted in six laboratories of Dhaka, by using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing machine.
DGHS Director Dr Md Habibur Rahman made the statement in the same online press conference.
He also said the PCR machines are being installed in Mymensingh and Rajshahi, while the process of conducting tests will begin in Barisal, Khulna and Sylhet within a week.
Till Monday, Bangladesh confirmed five deaths and 49 infections from Covid-19.
The fast spreading coronavirus, which was first reported in China’s Wuhan, has infected more than 724,500 people and claimed above 34,000 lives, according to Worldometer.
Globally, a total of 151,833 infected people have also recovered from Covid-19, announced the World Health Organization (WHO).