After a long wait, the Covid-19 virus testing has finally started at Noakhali Abdul Malek Ukil Medical College. The college authorities said that the programme will start experimentally from May 1 (Friday). The college has already been provided with 24 test kits.
Abdul Malek Ukil Medical College, Noakhali University of Science and Technology, Deputy Commissioner, Civil Surgeon's Office and Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad provided RT-PCR machines to the college for coronavirus examination.
College authorities said a letter was sent to the health department in early April stating that coronavirus testing was possible in the microbiology lab of Abdul Malek Ukil Medical College if some lab equipment, including RT-PCR machines, were provided.
Later, in a video conference, the Deputy Commissioner and the Civil Surgeon again informed the Prime Minister about the matter and on April 8, the CDC visited the lab.
At one stage, a letter came from the health department instructing Abdul Malek Ukil Medical College to start testing for coronavirus with one machine from the two RT-PCR machines of Noakhali University of Science and Technology.
After that the machine was provided to the medical college with the overall cooperation of Noakhali University of Science and Technology.
Work on the lab is already nearing completion. Lab technologist Sanjib Pal has also been given a power of attorney from the college to receive test kits and safety equipment from the public health department.
Principal of Abdul Malek Ukil Medical Professor Abdus Salam said, “I am working very fast to start the lab. Infrastructural work is completed. The team will come from Dhaka tomorrow to install the machine. After they work and run the machine, we will be able to do the testing.”
