Preparations are underway to expand hospital beds as temporary measures in some key areas of the country to treat people infected with novel coronavirus. Construction of a new hospital and treatment of other diseases in Dhaka and outside is also underway to treatpeople infected with coronavirus.
Many corporate houses have extended their generous hands to build temporary makeshift hospitals and hence keeping extra beds ready to face the emergency of treating coronavirus patients. According to authorities concerned of Department of Health, Kuwait-Bangladesh Friendship Hospital in Dhaka, Sheikh Hasina National Burn Institute, Sheikh Russell Gastrolivar Institute and Hospital, Railway Hospital, Metropolitan General Hospital, Mirpur Lalkuthi Hospital, Regent Hospital (Uttara- Mirpur) and Sajida Foundation (Jatrabari) hospital are currently available for treating corona patients.
Apart from this, introduction of corona treatment units in several hospitals, including at Mugda Medical College and hospital, is underway. In addition, after meeting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the managing director of the Bashundhara Group, Sayem Sobhan Anvir, proposed building a five thousand-bed hospital to meet up the corona crisis in the country in case of any emergency. Last Sunday, he handed over a check of Tk 10 crore to the Prime Minister's Corona Prevention Fund.
According to the written proposal of Ahmed Akbar Sobhan, chairman of Bashundhara Group, four convention centers, and a trade center will be converted into a five thousand-bed hospital in Kuril. The Prime Minister's office has informed that the Prime Minister has accepted and approved the proposal.
Meanwhile, Gonosathya Kendra has begun construction of a hospital like China in Tejgaon with the help of the Akij Group. Sheikh Bashir Uddin, Managing Director (MD) of the Akij Group, said the hospital is being built which would be similar to one in Wuhan built for the treatment of corona infected patients.
He further said that the construction of the hospital will be completed within the next one week. The medical equipment will be installed by same time. Besides, many organizations are also preparing to set up treatment centers for corona patients. It has been decided by coronavirus prevention district committee that in Khulna Diabetic Hospital will be used to treat patients with coronavirus infection.
Khulna Civil Surgeon DrSujat Ahmed said that suspected COVID-19 patients will be provided primary treatment at the independent flu corner of Khulna Medical College Hospital. If the signs of infection are clearly visible to anyone, as advised by doctors, they will be monitored at the Hotel Ambassador and Hotel DS Palace to be kept in an institutional quarantine.
If any report comes positive, he/she will be sent to Khulna Diabetic Hospital (Corona Hospital) for institutional isolation, he added. Meanwhile, an isolation unit has been set up at Faujdarhat TB Hospital in Sitakunda in Chottogram for the treatment of corona patients. It is reported that a 10-bed unit has been launched at the Bangladesh Institute of Tropical and Infectious Disease (BITID). Authorities have decided to keep the coronavirus patient at the hospital first.
Assistant Professor Mohammad Mamunur Rashid of the hospital said the isolation unit has been opened in two rooms of the hospital's diarrhea unit from January 24, under the government's direction. Meanwhile, a 250-bed hospital at Mohammad Ali Hospital in Bagura is being prepared as an isolation unit to treat coronary patients. The Bogra Civil Surgeon Dr Gausul Azim Chowdhury confirmed the information.
While no the private hospital has been prepared for the coronavirus test in Barishal, preparations are underway for treatment at the Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barisal. Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Barishal SM Azizar Rahman has requested to set up a coronavirus detection lab in the hospital.