DHAKA, May 14, 2020 (BSS) – Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid
Maleque today said the government has a target of 15,000 samples test everday
to intensify its efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.
“The number of coronavirus positive case has increased in the country as
the government expanded testing facilities in the past one month. We have to
perform more tests to contain the spread of the disease,” he told a reception
function of newly recruited nurses at Directorate General Of Nursing &
Midwifery (DGNM) here.
Secretary of Health Service Division Ashadul Islam, Secretary of Health
Education Division Ali Nur, Secretary of the Public Administration Ministry
Sheikh Yusuf Harun, President of Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad Dr Iqbal
Arsenal and General Secretary of Bangladesh Medical Association(BMA) Dr
Ahestamul Haque Chowdhury, among others, addressed the function with DGNM
Directorate General Siddiqa Akhtar in the chair.
A total of 5054 nurses were accorded reception at the function, an official
release said.
The minister said the government now is planning to test 10,000 samples per
day as 41 PCR labs have already been set up in the country and installations
of more PCR labs are underway. “We will reach the target of carrying out
15,000 tests very soon,” he added.
Maleque said, “We have adequate number of kits, PPE (Personal Protective
Equipment), surgical masks and gloves. There are no shortages of medical
facilities in the country.”
He urged the people to avoid non-essential movement as rampant travelling
is mainly responsible for gradual increase of coronavirus infection.
He also called upon the newly recruited nurses to show maximum dedication
while performing duties for COVID-19 patients.
“The government has recruited you (newly recruited nurses) for treatment of
coronavirus positive patients. So, you are lucky ones… you have got
opportunities for serving COVID-19 infected patients,” Maleque added.
As part of increasing healthcare facilities, the government has recruited
the medical professionals in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, the health
minister added. “We recruited a large number of medical professionals at a
quickest possible time… recruitment process of medical technologists is
underway to strengthen our health system to fight the COVID-19 pandemic,” he
added.
On April 30, the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC) has recommended
recruiting 2,000 doctors and 5,054 nurses to tackle the coronavirus crisis in
the country.
The PSC made the recommendation as per requirement of the Public
Administration Ministry, in case of state emergency, to provide healthcare
services to the COVID-19 patients.
Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) sources said a total of
151,930 samples have so far been tested at 41 PCR labs since the detection of
the first COVID-19 cases in the country.
Of the total 41 PCR labs, 20 labs are in Dhaka city and 21 outside the
capital city, they said adding the government has collected 18, 89,362 PPE so
far, of which. over 14,90,193 were distributed and 3,99,169 are in stock.