Mashrafe initiates mobile medical service in Narail

Star cricketer, former captain of the Bangladesh national team and member of parliament, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, has never been one to shirk responsibilities and now, during the coronavirus outbreak, he has come forward once again with a helping hand.

His Narail Express Foundation on Sunday began a mobile medical service for the people of Narail and Lohagara upazilas.

If anyone in Mashrafe’s constituency falls ill, they can call the Narail Express Foundation and give them their address. An ambulance will take a physician to the patient’s home. The physician will even provide medicines if necessary.

At this time of the COVID-19 outbreak, people with even a common cold, fever or cough are gripped with panic. Or they are hesitant to go to hospital in fear of isolation. And so they are avoiding medical attention.

And that is why Mashrafe, who is a member of parliament from the Narail-2 seat, decided to take up this project.

Speaking to Prothom Alo about this initiative on Sunday, everyone’s favourite ‘Mash’ said, “Even if people have other ailments, they are too scared to go to hospital in fear of coronavirus. That is why we have initiated a mobile medical service in Narail and Lohagara.”

If the physician detects any possible coronavirus patient, tests will be arranged, said Mashrafe.

“The Narail government hospital is not complete as yet, but even so we have arranged a 10-bed coronavirus centre there. If any such patients are found, they will be kept here and their samples sent to Khulna for testing. We will be able to test two people from each upazila, that is four people, every day,” said Mashrafe.

Presently two local physicians are conducting the Narail Express Foundation home visits, but Mashrafe hopes that other physicians from the district will come forward to join this initiative.

“It’s difficult to carry out such a task with just two physicians,” he said, “If other doctors of our area came forward, more people could be reached.”