DHAKA, Oct 06, 2020 (BSS) – Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque today said Bangladesh is well equipped to face possible second wave of COVID-19 as the country is handling the pandemic successfully.
“Bangladesh has achieved adequate capacity through taking all necessary initiatives to deal with the COVID-19 outbreak,” he told a discussion titled “Tackling of second wave: Preparation” organized by Bangladesh Medical College Association in a city hotel, an official release said.
State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Md. Enamur Rahman, Dr Anwar Khan, MP, Eminent physician Dr Abdullah, Director General of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Prof Dr Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam, Director General of Health Education Division Dr Enayet Hossain, among others, addressed the discussion with President of the medical college association MA Mubin Khan in the chair.
Prime Minister’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman also joined the discussion virtually.
Maleque said since the first detection of coronavirus patients in month of March this year, the government has taken various effective measures including recruitment of doctors, nurses and medical technologists to fight the deadly virus.
When almost the entire world is struggling to control coronavirus situation, Bangladesh has been able to contain the outbreak of coronavirus, he added.
Maleque said Bangladesh witnessed lower COVID-19 fatality rate as the government has taken multiple preventive measures to deal with the pandemic.
Bangladesh has been lauded globally as the government is effectively handling the coronavirus with 1.45 percent death rate from the deadly disease, he added.
He also said Bangladesh is keeping close contact with those companies, which are at final stage of COVID-19 vaccine development.
“Many countries are working frantically for COVID-19 vaccine development campaign… But nine companies are at final stage in the race of vaccine development. We are keeping constant communication with five companies to get effective vaccines at the quickest possible time,” Maleque added.
The government has taken all necessary preparations including financial capabilities to collect effective and safe vaccine soon after COVID-19 vaccine development by any company in the world.