Bangladesh after 42 days of the first case of coronavirus has formed a national committee with 17 medical experts to deal COVID-19. President of Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council Prof Mohammod Shahidullah will lead the panel formed by the health ministry on Saturday. Director of the government’s disease monitoring agency, IEDCR, Prof Meerjady Sabrina Flora has been made the secretary of the committee which will suggest the government how to increase the quality of health service in hospitals.
It comes amid criticism that the health ministry did not take adequate preparations to face the virus despite having time. The virus first hit China’s Wuhan city in December. Bangladesh reported the first case on March 8. Healthcare professionals still complain that they did not get proper personal protective equipment which is necessary to protect them from the virus. One doctor also died of the virus.
According to the health ministry notice, the new committee will also advise the government on how to build the capacity of doctors providing services during the epidemic. They will also help the government in taking initiatives needed to motivate them, while focusing on the research related to vaccines for COVID-19.
The panel can exchange their views with the public health expert committee the government formed on Mar 28. It can add new members if needed. Senior virologist and former vice-chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Prof Nazrul Islam, President of Diabetic Association of Bangladesh Prof AK Azad Khan, Senior Gynaecologist National Professor Shahla Khatun, President of Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) Dr Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin, former president of BMA Prof Mahmud Hasan, former vice-chancellor of BSMMU Prof Pran Gopal Datta, and President of Swadhinata Chikitshak Parishad Prof Iqbal Arslan are the members of the committee.
Besides, former director of the IEDCR Prof Mahmudur Rahman, former president of Bangladesh Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Bangladesh Prof Raqshan Ara Begum, icddr,b’s senior director Dr Shams El Arifeen, senior anesthesiologist Prof Khalilur Rahman, senior professor of medicine Dr Tariqul Islam, former chairman of the BSMMU microbiology and immunology department Prof Humayun Sattar, former professor of the National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital Dr Md Golam Mostafa, and former director of the National Institute of Mental Health and Hospital Prof Mohit Kamal are the members of the committee. As of Sunday, Bangladesh confirmed 2456 cases of coronavirus including 91 deaths.
