Bangladesh to recruit 2000 physicians, 6000 nurses to stem COVID-19

Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said her government has already initiated the process of appointing 2000 more physicians and 6000 nurses to ensure treatment of the coronavirus infected patients.

“We are going to appoint more 2000 physicians and 6000 nurses at the quickest possible time to ensure treatment of the coronavirus patients,” she said while exchanging views with the officials and public representatives of the districts of Rajshahi division over the COVID-19 situation through video conference from her official Ganabhaban residence.

She said the process to this end has already started, adding that, “I myself has already made it (the process of appointing more 2000 doctors and 6000 nurses) okay”, state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha news agency report said.

The premier said doctors will be recruited from those who have passed the BCS examinations (earlier), adding that after recruitment of the physicians and nurses, all of them will be given special training on how to treat COVID-19 patients.

She reiterated that her government has already taken initiatives to install Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in every district in phases.

In this context, she said, “We have already decided to set up ICU in every district in phases as no problem to be surfaced in giving treatment to patients anywhere.”

Sheikh Hasina said her government is taking every possible measure in line with the guideline of the World Health Organisation (WHO) to save people’s life from the very beginning of the coronavirus outbreak in China.

Referring to statistics of global deaths and infections by the COVID-19, she said the situation of Bangladesh is comparatively well due to the timely intervention of her government.

The premier said as many as 3964 physicians have been entrusted with giving healthcare services to all through online or telephone spelling out her government’s measures to save life of the people.

She said the government has been attaching priority to protect the physicians, nurses and health activists who are rendering healthcare services to COVID-19 patients.

Referring to arrangement of better treatment for a physician infected with the coronavirus after bringing him in Dhaka from Khulna by helicopter, the premier said, “We have been taking all possible measures for ensuring protection of the health activists and doctors who are giving healthcare services to COVID-19 patients risking their lives.”

In this context, she said that her government has already announced incentives for them.

The premier said her government has already collected 15,16,190 pieces of personal protection equipments (PPEs) and distributed 12,22,800 among the health activists, physicians and nurses to ensure their protection.

Mentioning that her government’s efforts are on to collect more PPEs, she said, “We are always collecting the PPEs.”

The prime minister once again asked all to maintain the stay-at-home guideline and voluntary home quarantine policies as well as avoid mass gatherings as a part of the precautionary measures to protect themselves from the COVID-19 as it is highly contagious disease.

Sheikh Hasina said her government has already dedicated various hospitals for the treatment of COVID-19 patients as appropriate measures would be taken to give treatment to coronavirus infected persons at district levels.

The prime minister, however, expressed satisfaction over the coronavirus situation in the districts of Rajshahi division as only eight COVID-19 patients were found in Joypurhat, 17 in Bogura, seven in Rajshahi, two each in Sirajganj, Pabna, Chapainawabganj and Naogaon while no coronavirus positive patient was found in Natore.

She asked all concerned particularly the local administrations and law enforcement agencies to take effective measures as no outsider could enter the districts especially from Narayanganj, Gazipur and coronavirus hit areas to check further spread of the disease.

The premier directed the local administration of Pabna to put the officials and workers, who recently returned from Russia, under quarantine before their joining to construction work of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.

She also instructed the local administrations to give prompt support to farmers to grow other crops particularly in those districts which are famous for (different) crops production immediately after harvesting the Boro paddy as no land remains uncultivated for a long period.

“You will have to make sure that no land remains uncultivated as the government wants to ensure food security to offset the possible famine the world is likely to face after the corovirus pandemic,” she continued.

The premier called upon all to grow crops and vegetables in fallow lands near their homes to make contribution to the government effort in ensuring food security, saying, “I personally believe no food scarcity will be seen in the days to come if everyone makes their contribution to this end.”

She once again asked the local administrations as well as her party leaders and workers to prepare the list of the people who are out of the social safety net and OMS (open market sale) coverage to reach relief to their homes as none remains out of the purview of relief.

In this context, she said that committees have been formed headed by a secretary to monitor the overall relief distribution to the needy people across the country.

The premier asked all particularly the affluent people to join hands with the government to reduce the hardship of the distressed people in their bad times arising out of the coronavirus pandemic.

Referring to donation of Taka 10,000 by a beggar to the relief fund, she said Nazimuddin from Jhenaigati of Sherpur district collected the money from begging to build his house.

She continued: “He (Nazimuddin) has set an example for the world by donating all his belongings for the welfare of the needy people. Such human quality is not even seen in many rich people. We have many things to learn from him.”

The prime minister said the darkness will definitely be removed, adding that all should work together for the shiny day being imbued with the ideology of the Father of the Nation as he sacrificed his entire life for the welfare of the people.

Kamruzzaman