12,500 sets of PPE to be distributed across country
To tackle the novel coronavirus, medical personnel must use personal protective equipment (PPE), but due to the global pandemic, the equipment is scarce in the country.
Considering the situation, fisheries and livestock ministry started distributing 12,566 sets of PPE to healthcare professionals from Monday.
All district and upazila departments of Department of Livestock Services (DLS) under all divisions started the distribution across the country, says a press release.
There has been a huge global demand for testing kits and PPE in the wake of the raging Covid-19 pandemic. As for PPE, local companies are struggling to manufacture enough due to, what they say, a shortage of raw materials, which are mostly imported from China.
Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim directed authorities to distribute PPE immediately because of the crisis.
District administrations, civil surgeons, upazila administrations and health complexes of the eight divisions distributed PPE on Monday. District and upazila livestock departments also distributed the equipment yesterday.
The equipment was stocked in different district and upazila livestock departments.
"Initiatives of government and private institutions, and individuals are essential to control the outbreak," said the minister.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government has taken different initiatives to keep people safe. To protect health workers, this particular initiative was taken, he said.
SYLHET GETS 1,105 SETS OF PPE
DLS yesterday provided healthcare providers, including doctors, 1,105 sets of PPE from their stock in Sylhet division.
The equipment was stocked to fight the bird flu epidemic in 2013, and now, as per a DLS instruction, it is being distributed in every district.
Dr Md Aminul Islam, deputy director of DLS in Sylhet division, said as per instructions, 400 sets of PPE were handed over to Habiganj's civil surgeon, 450 to Sunamganj's civil surgeon -- and 65 to deputy commissioner, 65 to upazila nirbahi officers and 10 to an upazila health officer in Moulvibazar".
"In Sylhet district, 50 sets were handed over to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, 25 to the civil surgeon and 40 to different healthcare establishments. Another 50 will be handed over to the civil surgeon soon," he said.
Dr Debapada Ray, health director in Sylhet division, said, "PPE is essential for doctors and caregivers for the outbreak, and we have to ensure its proper use, as per the given instructions."
On March 15, a directive was released jointly by Directorate General of Health Services, Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research, and World Health Organization about proper use of PPE during the outbreak.