US provides 5 lakh dengue diagnostic test kits
The United States has given five lakh Dengue NS1 rapid diagnostic test kits to help fight the ongoing dengue outbreak in the country. The kits will help find patients and manage their treatment. The US gave them through the STRIDES programme, which the US government funds.
Yesterday, US Charge d’Affaires to Bangladesh Ms. Trishita Maula handed the kits to Health and Family Welfare Minister Mr. Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain. The handover took place at Kurmitola Multicare Specialized Hospital in the capital. The minister ordered the dengue testing kits to be sent across the country quickly.
The minister said the handover was held at Kurmitola Multicare Specialized Hospital because of traffic jams and ease of travel. He said all the kits will go straight to the Central Medical Stores Depot (CMSD). Later, the Directorate General of Health Services will send them to all district and upazila hospitals as needed.
Mr. Sakhawat Hossain said the public sector already has enough dengue antigen kits and IV saline in stock, along with the newly received kits. So the health department is ready to ensure the needed tests and treatment, even if the number of dengue cases rises in any part of the country. He said the government is thinking about introducing a dengue vaccine in Bangladesh.
He said the vaccine costs a lot, so it is important to make sure it works and is safe. He said talks on this are going on with the WHO, UNICEF and Gavi. He said the government will take a final decision by following international guidelines.
Additional Secretary of the Health Services Division Mr. Md. Rafiqul Islam was present at the event. So were Additional Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services Professor Dr. Md. Zahid Raihan and Director of Kurmitola Multicare Specialized Hospital Brigadier General Mr. Md. Saidur Rahman. Senior officials of the US Embassy and the Health Ministry were also present. Later, the health minister visited the dengue ward and the diagnostic laboratory of the hospital.
