Coronavirus in Bangladesh: Challenges and government measures

18 May. 2020

Faridul Alam, Vice Chancellor of Bangladesh University of Medical Sciences, discussed "medical community initiative in Bangladesh in response to COVID-19" during the 7th STEP on May 18, 2020.

According to Alam, "when COVID-19 hit Bangladesh on 8 March, people thought the disease can be managed by doctors, but everybody soon found out that it was not possible."

"The morbidity of the disease in Bangladesh is low (228 deaths until 16 May), so the management is not complicated," he observed.

Also, according to Alam, most of the cases occur in the capital city of Dhaka.

However, Alam also mentioned that "according to a very recent update, infection rate is increasing day by day in the capital and its surroundings."

Alam further hinted at the challenges faced in Bangladesh, which include "inadequate health budget, shortage of private doctors, specialized care, PPE, ICU, ventilators and special care unit, and Training on Coronavirus management in different categories of HCP."

"At this moment there are only 1769 ventilators in Bangladesh, which means an average of one ventilator for 93,273 people," he remarked.

"Bangladesh is fighting COVID-19 with only 192 ICU beds. Among the 192 dedicated ICU beds, 79 are in Dhaka city alone, while there are only 10 beds left for the rest of the Dhaka Division, and five for Mymensingh Division."

"There is a shortage of healthcare professionals. There are about 20,000 doctors, and 25,000 nursing staff in government and about 60,000 private doctors in Bangladesh."

Alam also raised the issue of the impossibility of social distancing and lockdown when it comes to low-income people having to go to work.

"People are hiding their symptoms, attending non-COVID hospital," he added.

Regarding the steps taken to fight the virus, Alam stated that "Molecular-based Test for COVID-19 is running in 40 labs in Bangladesh. This is the only type of test being conducted in Bangladesh currently."

He mentioned that "RT-PCR tests are the gold standard in diagnosing COVID-19 and are the only ones validated by the World Health Organization."

"The government of Bangladesh has developed different types of guidelines and strategies. Our university is also taking part in the test. Patients follow pathways for the designated COVID-19 hospitals in Bangladesh."

Alam also showed a Standard Operating Protocol (SOP) patient flow chart in his presentation which is distributed in Bangladesh among MCP to improve quality of service.

Regarding the achievements of scientists in Bangladesh, Alam announced that a team from Child Health Research Foundation (CHRF) has successfully completed the genome sequencing of the SARS CoV-2 in Bangladesh. It was disclosed on May 12, 2020.

"This will help make predictions for the future when COVID-19 peaks arrive."

News Source: MSTF Media