COVID-19 testing being expanded to more labs
The scope for COVID-19 tests has been expanded in the country. The government’s Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) had been running these tests from the beginning. Three other institutions have now started conducting these tests too, though on a limited scale. One of these is outside of Dhaka. The other 11 labs selected by the government for testing purposes are yet to start.
The World Health Organisation is placing priority in testing in order to bring the COVID-19 pandemic under control. However, in Bangladesh there has been a lot of dilemma over testing. There are allegations that IEDCR is not always complying with requests for tests. Or the results of the tests are not being released. On the other hand, influential people are putting pressure on IEDCR to get their tests done.
IEDCR started publishing the COVID-19 tests from 28 January and have been giving updates every 24 hours during the regular press briefing about how many tests have been conducted. They also send press releases to the media every evening with updates on the number of tests. The press briefing updates and press release updates do not always tally.
In the record of 63 days, from 28 January to 30 March, IEDCR has tested 1,275 samples. Yet on Monday it was said that the institute has tested 1,338 samples. This exceeds the reported daily records by 63 samples.
IEDCR director Meerjady Sabrina, responding to Prothom Alo’s queries in this regard on Monday, said they would “look into the matter”.
In Dhaka
The Public Health Institute in Mohakhali, Dhaka, began COVID-19 tests three days ago. So far they have tested one sample only.
Dhaka Shishu Hospital and Child Health Research Foundation began testing two days ago. On the first day, that is on Sunday, 29 March, they tested 3 samples. On Monday they received six samples, said the Samir Saha, professor of the hospital’s microbiology department.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) has set up a COVID-19 test laboratory at the old Bangladesh Betar building in Shahbagh. Speaking to Prothom Alo on Monday, BSMMU vice chancellor Kanak Kanti Barua said, “We will run a trial on Tuesday.” He said samples would be collected from patients coming to the outdoor department with COVID-19 symptoms. Samples would also be collected from those who requested to be tested.
IEDCR’s sample collection
Not everyone is able to get tested at IEDCR. First a call must be made to a specific phone number of IEDCR where the caller will give details of his or her symptoms. The physician on the other end will then decide whether a sample will be collected or not. If the physician feels it is necessary for a rest to be run, a trained medical technologist will then go to the address of the caller and collect the sample.
Sources at IEDCR have said that there is a team of 24 such technologists in Dhaka, working in two shifts to collect samples from various homes and hospitals of the city. However, last week a number of these technologists resigned from their duties.
Concerning those who have resigned, Meerjady Sabrina said, “They were working with a particular project. They were not permanent government employees.”
Who can be tested?
Many people over the last few weeks have complained of not receiving any response after calling the IEDCR number. They then turn to social media to vent their concern. The media has reported about such cases too.
A private university teacher in Dhaka, who had been suffering from asthma for long, was aware that he was at higher risk than others and called the IEDCR hotline, but to no avail. He then turned to Facebook in desperation, revealing that though he had been given repeated assurances, no medical technologist ever turned up to take a sample to be tested.
This teacher, through a relative, managed to contact an official of the prime minister’s office. He also contacted some journalists. Finally on Friday, 27 March, medical technologists went to his house and collected his sample. Till Monday, he has not received any results of his test.
Outside Dhaka
At the regular press briefing on Monday, government officials said that COVID-19 testing would begin from the same day, Monday, at the Rangpur and Mymensingh medical colleges. But that did not happen.
Principal of Rangpur Medical College, Nuruannabi, told Prothom Alo that officials had come from Dhaka to train personnel at the hospital and the testing would probably commence from Thursday.
Principal of Mymensingh Medical College, Chittaranjan Debnath, said that the laboratory was being prepared and the tests would begin in a day or two. They had received 220 test kits.
Bangladesh Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, located at Sitakunda, Chattogram, began running tests four days ago. They have tested 28 samples so far.
IEDCR has a laboratory in Cox’s Bazar. No test was conducted their till Monday. A physician there said he had been designated to collect samples, but had not been provided with any personal protective equipment (PPE).
Health minister Zahid Maleque, at the regular press briefing yesterday, said that very few tests were being done in Cox’s Bazar and Chattogram. People were not coming forward. He called upon the people to go to the testing centres or to call these centres over phone.
Questions about the kits
Two weeks ago there was a shortage of COVID-19 testing kits. The shortage has been overcome somewhat. Certain countries and organisations have provided Bangladesh with the test kits. However, questions are arising about the use of the kits.
A state minister has provided 200 test kits to the health department of Shingra upazila in Natore. The mayor of Shingra pourashava Jannatul Firdous handed these over to the upazila health officer Aminul Islam on Sunday.
* This report appeared in the print edition of Prothom Alo and has been rewritten in English by Ayesha Kabir