The second batch of medical logistics including 10,000 testing kits, 10,000 personal protective equipment (PPE) and 1000 infrared thermometers will arrive here from Kunming, China on Thursday.
The medical logistics will be brought by a special aircraft of the government of China to help Bangladesh fight the COVID-19, said the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka on Tuesday.
In the face of this unprecedented global pandemic, China reiterated its strong commitment to helping friends in need and building a community of shared future for mankind.
Foreign minister AK Abdul Momen on Sunday said the government is working to have adequate stock of medical logistics to deal with the situation.
“We need it. We need to have enough stock,” he said adding that the government is also allowing private companies to import testing kits and other medical logistics.
China recently announced its decision to donate emergency medical supplies, including a large number of test kits, to Bangladesh to fight coronavirus or Covid-19.
This Chinese Emergency Humanitarian Aid Project includes coronavirus test kits for 10,000 people, 15,000 medical N95 masks, 10,000 medical protective clothing and 1,000 infrared thermometers.
Meanwhile, Jack Ma, co-founder and former executive chairman of Alibaba Group, announced to help Bangladesh and some other Asian nations contain the spread of coronavirus.
He made the announcement in a tweet on Saturday.
Ma promised to donate emergency supplies, including masks, test kits, protective suits, plus ventilators and thermometers.
The other nations are – Afghanistan, Cambodia, Laos, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
While talking to reporters at his office, Momen said the government is working hard to overcome the new challenge.
“It’s a challenge. We will be able to overcome the challenge by working together,” he said.
The foreign minister said Bangladesh has successfully overcome the challenges of cyclone and other natural disasters.
“In the world, we are known as model of disaster preparedness country. We managed that successfully,” Momen said.
Emphasising on joint efforts, he said they are ready to accept any good recommendations to handle the situation. “We remain open to good recommendations. We are also mobilising our people (to create awareness).”
Momen said they are in touch with China regarding medical logistics to be brought to Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, local companies have started producing PPEs (personal protective equipments) and masks to address the needs.
Bangladesh announced its first coronavirus cases on 8 March.