Coronavirus: Serious crisis of PPE persists
Physicians and health workers are at high risk due to the increased number of coronavirus patients as they do not have necessary personal protection equipment (PPE)
A section of people are putting pressure on the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) to procure low quality equipment.
After the coronavirus outbreak in China in the last week of December and later its spread across the globe, World Health Organisation (WHO) issued health warning on 28 February.
On 11 March, WHO declared coronavirus a global pandemic.
From the very beginning, people of Bangladesh had concerns over the COVID-19.
Physicians at different hospitals expressed concerns after the first coronavirus case had been detected on 8 March.
Physicians of some hospitals refused to treat patents unless they were provided with PPE.
Some physicians reportedly closed their personal chambers in Dhaka. Intern physicians in Rajshahi, Sylhet and Khulna observed work abstention. They said they would not join work without PPE.
There is a crisis of PPE in the country and the quality of PPE is also questioned.
Speaking to Prothom Alo, Central Medical Stores Depot brigadier general Mohammad Shahidullah said, “We have to take steps considering the situation. We should not keep silent considering the quality.”
According to the central control room of DGHS, Central Medical Stores Depot collected 357,000 PPE to tackle coronavirus situation. As many as 291,000 PPE have been distributed to the government hospitals and there are 66,000 in stock.
As per demand, collection, stock and distribution are very little.
DGHS director professor Iqbal Kabir said, “We need 1 million PPE in next three months and 1 million masks every day.”
WHO has approved the quality of PPE. There is no available information at the relevant agencies of the government as to what amount of PPE was in Bangladesh and what amount distributed.
Different organisations alleged the physicians did not get quality PPE.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) vice chancellor Kanak Kanti Barua said physicians, nurses and health workers will be infected with coronavirus if they do not use PPE certified by WHO.
DGHS officials said different social and business organisations are eager to supply PPE.
Certain quarters are putting pressure on DGHS to procure PPE, the officials added.
This story, originally published in Prothom Alo print edition, has been rewritten in English by Rabiul Islam.