The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) on Monday handed over four new ambulances with ICU facilities and a COVID-19 sample collection van to Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) to help them transfer patients to hospitals and support COVID-19 sample collection and testing.
Red Crescent Society Chairman Hafiz Ahmed Mazumdar, MP received the vehicles and keys on behalf of the Society.
With this, Bangladesh Red Crescent’s ambulance service will be strengthened in providing emergency service to vulnerable people during the COVID-19 pandemic, it said.
Two of these ambulances are with ICU facilities and two are specially equipped for COVID-19 patients. The IFRC will handover another blood collection van to Bangladesh Red Crescent in the coming week to support their blood collection drive.
Red Crescent Society Vice Chairman Professor Dr. Md. Habibe Millat, MP, Secretary General Md. Feroz Salah Uddin, Deputy Secretary General Md. Rafiqul Islam, Acting Head of IFRC Bangladesh Country Office Sanjeev Kumar Kafley, and IFRC COVID-19 Operations Manager Ali Akgul were present as special guests at the ceremony.
Chairman Mazumdar MP said the ambulances and sample collection van that have been added to the Red Crescent health services will help the Society in implementing its overall COVID-19 response activities.
Red Crescent Vice Chairman and IFRC governing board member Prof Dr. Millat, MP said as an auxiliary to the government, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society has been working to support the vulnerable people of Bangladesh.
"The Society’s humanitarian works have been highly acclaimed throughout the world. The Society has received several international awards and became a member of IFRC governing board through their excellent work.”
IFRC Acting Head of Bangladesh Country Office Sanjeev Kumar Kafley said, “We, the IFRC, are committed to working alongside Bangladesh Red Crescent in their drive against COVID-19."
"The ICU ambulances that are handed over are equipped to transfer critical patients to hospitals and will support Bangladesh Red Crescent in helping vulnerable people.
The sample collection van will make COVID-19 sample collection and testing easier and will contribute to the government’s overall COVID-19 response efforts."
Since the beginning of the pandemic, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society has been working to increase mass awareness and improve hygiene practice; distributing leaflets; disinfecting public places; distributing food and facem