Testing for Covid-19: Kalihati admin leads the way by setting example
When people all around the country, even in the capital city, are struggling to get tested for Covid-19, the administration of Kalihati upazila has come up with a timely and innovative solution to solve the problem.
The administration has invested in a custom order specialised vehicle that is now going to the doorsteps of interested residents to collect Covid-19 test samples from them.
An entire battery-run vehicle was modified for the purpose, with a protective sample collection chamber in its back. A pair of heavy-duty long rubber gloves is fitted outside the glass panel of the chamber.
A tray is also attached below the protruding gloves so laboratory apparatus, such as swabs and test tubes, can be stocked as necessary. Staying unexposed inside the safety of the collection chamber, fitted with fixed glass panels all around, the sample collector can use the gloves from inside to collect necessary samples from a person standing right outside.
Last Thursday, lawmaker Hasan Imam Khan inaugurated the operation of the specialised vehicle on the premises of Kalihati Upazila Health Complex in the upazila headquarters. The vehicle is now operational under the health department of the upazila.
Ansar Ali, chairman of Kalihati Upazila Parishad; Shamim Ara Nipa, upazila nirbahi officer (UNO); and Dr Mohammad Saidur Rahman, upazila health and family planning officer (UHFPO); were present, among others, on the occasion.
Anisur Rahman, a technologist at the health complex, said the vehicle was made in a way so that all necessary items can be kept inside the collection chamber and the sample collector, inside the chamber, would not need to wear any personal protective equipment while collecting samples by using the gloves attached to the glass panel.
UHFPO Dr Mohammad Saidur Rahman said now the residents of the upazila do not need to put themselves or others in harm's way by going to the hospital just to give samples for the Covid-19 test. Rather, the vehicle will go to the houses of probable Covid-19 patients.
Explaining how they managed the expenses to procure the vehicle, UNO Shamim Ara Nipa said the Kalihati Upazila Parishad provided Tk 3 lakh for the particular project.
South Korea and India have already been successful in making vehicles for collection of Covid-19 samples. In the case of the vehicle in Kalihati, they tried to incorporate similar features that are available in the vehicles made in those countries.
All the remodelling work was done at a local workshop and the vehicle will enable them to collect samples from at least 50 people each day, she said.
"When people from remote areas come to the hospital to give their samples, a larger number of people are under the risk of getting infected by them. But since this vehicle will collect samples by going door to door, it will help reduce the risk of spreading the infection further," the UNO hoped.
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