Brac launches rapid testing for Covid-19 at 9 cattle markets under DNCC

Brac has launched antigen-based Covid-19 rapid testing at nine cattle markets under the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) starting today.

DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam inaugurated the operations of Surokkha corners at the cattle market at Sayeednagar in Bhatara around 11am, according to a press release.

"This is a truly praiseworthy initiative from Brac at this crisis moment of the pandemic. We are calling on other organisations to come forward as well with initiatives as much as they can afford," Mayor Atiqul Islam said at the inauguration event.

Dr Mirna Zaman, manager technical of Brac's Health, Nutrition and Population Programme (HNPP), was present, among others at the event. She informed the mayor about the different aspects of this initiative.

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) is providing necessary support to set up one Surokkha corner in each of these cattle markets where Brac staff is carrying out sample collection service. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) of the Government of UK is supporting Brac and DGHS in this effort, said the release.

Starting from today the service will continue till July 20 (Tuesday), a day before Eid, and will be available from 8am to 8pm. Anyone experiencing Covid-19 symptoms like fever, dry cough, fatigue, sore throat and respiratory difficulties, or has been in contact with a confirmed Covid-19 patient, is eligible to undergo the test through Surokkha corners.

One has to pay the fee fixed by the government to get the service. Prior registration is not required to give samples. Each of the Surokkha corners will be able to collect and analyse 150 samples a day, added the release.

If the result of a sample analysed via antigen testing returns positive i.e. detects the presence of novel coronavirus, the service seeker will be notified within 30 minutes. Results of a positive patient tested via antigen testing will be uploaded to the website within three to four hours.

The nine cattle markets to have these Surokkha corners are, open space inside the Section-3 of Block-E of Badda Eastern Housing (Aftabnagar), open space adjacent to Kaula Shiyaldanga, open space adjacent to Shahinagar housing (residential) project at Uttarkhan Moinertek, open space from Brindabon to north of BGMEA in Uttara Sector-17, temporary cattle market in Bhatara (Sayeednagar), Rajdhani Housing adjacent to 40-feet Road in Basila Mohammadpur, open space of Shopnodhara housing and Basila Garden City; open space owned by Salam Steel Ltd and Jumuna Housing Co to the north of and adjacent to 300ft Road under Ward-43 and Gabtoli cattle market in Mirpur.

Director of Brac Health, Nutrition and Population Programme (HNPP) Morseda Chowdhury said, "Brac has joined DNCC in this effort to reduce the level of vulnerability. We are distributing masks as part of our awareness campaign. The overall risk of contracting the infection will reduce when people who have already contracted Covid-19 will be identified through antigen testing."