Ever since the outbreak, Covid cases have continued to follow a rising trend in Comilla and as a result, government and private hospitals in the district have been struggling to deal with the burden of patient admission.
At this time, it has become crucial that health care centres remain prepared to provide uninterrupted medical services while the mass populous remain vigilant on Covid-19 related issues to ensure preventive behaviour.
To this end, Brac has launched a community-driven Covid-19 response and local-level health system strengthening approach to curbing Covid cases in the district.
On a visit around Comilla town on Sunday, this correspondent witnessed several Covid-related programs being undertaken by the NGO under its Community Fort in Resisting Covid-19 (CFRC) project, which is currently operational in 35 high-risk districts.
According to Brac sources, some 2,500 health workers, engaged under the CFRC initiative, are working tirelessly to raise awareness and ensure hygiene among the people around hotspot zones in town to curb Covid infection rates.
Around 900,000 facemasks have been distributed in 17 upazilas of the district under the project that started in June and will continue till the end of August.
Community groups have been engaged in awareness activities and rapid response. In addition, local government officials, volunteers and community leaders have been empowered with knowledge on Covid-19 related issues to ensure preventive behaviour at the hotspots, such as mosques, transport hubs, markets and shops.
Masks and flyers are being provided to individuals in order to raise awareness. In addition, anyone experiencing Covid symptoms is being urged to seek treatment at their closest government hospital.
Training and necessary facilities are also being provided at family planning centres and community clinics to ensure health care to the infected or symptomatic patients.
With a community-driven Covid-19 response and local-level health system strengthening approach, Brac has partnered with the DGHS, CSO Alliance and UN agencies to implement this initiative. A total of 41 local NGOs in the identified districts are acting as implementing partners.
Aslam Hossain, Brac’s Comilla area manager (health, nutrition and population program), said: “Besides, raising awareness among the mass populous across the Comilla district through various projects and programs since the Covid outbreak, every Brac official and employee has recently begun donating one day's salary every month to the government treasury for aid packages to the poor and insolvent people in financial crisis during the lockdown.”
Comilla Additional Deputy Commissioner Md Shahadat Hossain said: “I was at a mask distribution of Brac and I saw how the NGO workers had been working to prevent Covid infections across the district by ensuring hygiene and social distancing."
Speaking to Dhaka Tribune, Dr Morseda Chowdhury, director of health, nutrition and population program (HNPP) at Brac, said: “Brac is putting maximum emphasis on the proper use of masks to ward off transmission and has taken an initiative to distribute 13 million masks across the country under its CFRC project. Not only that, hotspot mobilizers and community mobilizers are promoting as well as encouraging people to wear these masks.”
This story has been published in partnership with Brac
