Zafrullah, from health hero to ‘corona champ’

After spending 22 days in Gonoshasthya Nagar Hospital, the hospital which he founded himself, Zafrullah Chowdhury was finally confirmed to be free of coronavirus, being tested by the kit also made by his own organisation. And at a time when even parents are not attending their own children’s funerals and children are abandoning their own mother in fear of the virus, this 79-year-old displayed a true spirit of humanity and courage.

Once confirming he was coronavirus-free, despite not wholly recovered from pneumonia, he slipped out of hospital on Sunday morning to attend the ‘janaza’ (funeral rites) of former minister Mohammed Nasim at the Banani graveyard.

Already known as a hero in the health sector, Zafrullah Chowdhury is now proving to be a corona champ. On Saturday night, speaking over phone to this correspondent, he expressed annoyance at the delay in the approval for his dream antibody test kit. “What a shame,” he murmured.

While undergoing treatment in hospital, he was kept on oxygen for 10 to 12 days. He did not lose consciousness at any stage and sometimes even took his treatment upon himself.

He used to keep regularly updated on Mohammed Nasim’s condition, said Dr Muhib Ullah Khandakar, his colleague of many decades. Zafrullah Chowdhury told Muhib Ullah Khandakar over phone on Saturday that he was indebted to Mohammed Nasim in many ways and was deeply grieved at his death.

At the Banani graveyard Zafrullah hailed Mohammed Nasim as a freedom fighter, stood in front of his coffin and saluted. He also stood in silence by the graves of those killed on 15 August. Then he offered prayers by the graves of the four national leaders.

Old family ties

When asked over phone on Sunday night about his ties with Mohammed Nasim’s family, he could not speak. He relayed his reply through Muhib Ullah, saying that during Pakistan times an uncle of Zafrullah had been a district and sessions judge in Pabna. Their family was close with Captain Mansur’s family from back then. Mohammed Nasim always lent his support to the Gonoshasthya Textile Mills and another project of theirs in Sirajganj.

Muhib Ullah, a colleague of Zafrullah’s for the last 34 years, relayed his words over telephone. Zafullah personally knew the former health minister Mohammed Nasim’s father Captain Mansur, who was one of the four national leaders. His friendship with Mohammed Nasim was well-known. That friendship was not affected by Zafrullah’s sharp criticism of Awami League or his position as an advisor BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. When Nasim was health minister, Zafrullah would send him recommendations for reforms in the sector. Their political differences made no difference to their friendship.

Two incidents are particularly noteworthy. Physicians and health workers were due to arrive from 100 countries around the world to attend the People’s Health Assembly. The assembly was to be held in Savar but back then there was no ISD phone service there. Mohammed Nasim was the post and telecommunications minister at the time. It was like an overnight revolution. Miles and miles of cables were brought all the way to Savar and around 100 telephone booths were set up at the assembly site. Over the five days of the assembly, the foreigner visitors had pay phone ISD facilities.

The next incident was a difficult one. Two years ago Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury was a victim of ‘politics’. It was a session of the same international health assembly, supported by the World Health Organisation. Visitors were to come from over 100 countries, but permission was not given to hold this in Savar. Most of the visitors had already arrived, but Zafrullah was seriously ill. BRAC’s Sir Fazle Hasan Abed was one of the main organisers of the event. He went to Zafrullah Chowdhury’s house along with the present chairperson of BRAC, Hossain Zillur Rahman. Zafrullah wasn’t able to get up, but sent a message to Mohammed Nasim.

At midnight Fazle Hasan Abed went to Mohammed Nasim’s house and Nasim solved the problem. Only the site was changed and held at BRAC’s convention centre in Ashulia.

Two days’ delay

Meanwhile, there has been another delay in giving the results of the Gonoshasthya antibody test kit. Vice chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Kanak Kanti Barua told Prothom Alo, “I have not received the report as yet.” Professor Shahina Tabassum, chairpersons of the performance committee formed by the government to test the efficacy the Gonoshasthya kit, informed him that they would need to more days to come up with the results.

Kanak Kanti Barua had previously said the result would be given on Thursday. On Sunday he said that the results hadn’t been delayed, but mathematical and statistical calculations were being carried out and certain other matters were being assessed. He said once he received the results, one copy would be sent to Gonoshashtya Kendra and the other to the drug administration.

“What a shame”

Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury called this correspondent on Saturday night. He himself was unwell still and his wife and child both were coronavirus patients. Yet he continued to fight for the test kit so that it could come to the help of the people.

Speaking weakly over the phone, Zafrullah said, “I cannot talk.” This correspondent asked him to rest, recover and then speak when he was well enough. The people all over the country had him in their prayers.

Two weeks prior to that when Zafrullah Chowdhury had tested coronavirus positive, he spoke to Prothom Alo, saying he was the luckiest patient because the two leaders of the two major political parties of the country, who were arch rivals, had both inquired after his welfare. A cabin has been reserved for him at Dhaka Medical College Hospital at the behest of prime minister Sheikh Hasina. And BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia sent him a basket laden with fruit.

Speaking on Saturday night, he reacted to the delay in the results for the antibody test kit, repeating, “What a shame! What a shame!”

Just before that, vice principal of the Gonoshashtya Social Medical College, Muhib Ullah, had sent an SMS saying that by the grace of Allah, Dr Zafrullah is corona antigen negative and antibody for COVID-19 positive.

Zafrullah Chowdhury is being treated at the hospital he founded, Gonoshasthya Nagar Hospital. Speaking about him on Saturday, his wife Shireen Huq said, “He is gradually improving. But he cannot speak much, his voice is weak. He has just started talking a bit. He is writing chits and handing these out to everyone, even to the doctors.”