Volunteers of Quantum Foundation perform funeral of Covid-19 victims
A team of dedicated people belonging to Quantum Foundation (QF) are performing funerals of Covid-19 victims, setting a laudable example of humanity at a time when even family members sometimes become too scared to reach the deceased's body.
As of filing of this report on Wednesday, they arranged cremation of 20 bodies of non-Muslims and buried 10 others of Muslims in Barishal division.
A group of 30 volunteers of QF, including 20 from Muslim community and 10 from non-Muslim community, received training from Barishal district civil surgeon on April 7 for conducting the funeral rituals with safety measures.
The volunteers are kept ready round the clock to attend the call for burial or
cremation of anyone who died from Covid-19, said Asim Bonik, spokesman of Quantum Foundation, Barishal.
"Our team of volunteers, comprising also females, include religious persons for arranging funeral of any person of any religion who died due to Covid-19. They use personal protective equipment (PPE) and take other safety measures while conducting the funeral rituals," he added.
"Sometimes family members and well-wishers do not want to contact the body of Covid-19 victim. Then volunteers of QF go to the spot quickly and arrange the funeral. One week ago a body was lying outside Barishal cremation ground for four hours and no one came for its funeral. Then volunteers did it," said Panaj Kumar Gupta, a local businessman.
The volunteers reach the house or hospital to collect the body, following the burial directives of the Ministry of Health, Islamic Foundation and World Health Organization, said Faisal Mahmud, organizer of Quantum Foundation's Barishal branch.
Following all health rules and Covid-19 prevention guidelines, they perform the burial or cremation according to the religious faith of the deceased, he said.
For safety during funeral, Quantum volunteers use required materials including protective gown, mask, safety gas, face shield, surgical hand gloves, heavy gloves, neck cover, gumboot, clothes for covering the body and specialized bag for carrying it, he added.
Rajibul Hasan Joy, coordinator of funeral activities of Quantum Foundation, Barishal branch, said they also use required disinfectant solutions while performing burial and cremation.
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