Staff Reporter :
The 17-member National Technical Advisory Committee has recommended to the government to procure five lakh testing kits on an urgent basis in order to detect more corona patients amid a relaxed lockdown across the country.
It came up with the recommendation during its meeting held on Tuesday. It also put forward several other advices for improving the standard of hospital care to win the fight against coronavirus in the capital.
The committee said, to avoid the current situation is very complicated, everyone needs to be careful about hygiene.
Beside, coronavirus testing facility should be increased requiring more testing kits.
Experts said, the required number of laboratories to be kept ready round the hours. In case of need, they may consult with one another.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the committee, Prof. Shahidullah said that “Currently, only those who approach for tests with symptoms are being tested. But Those who have symptoms but are not coming for tests have to be brought for testing.
If a person is sick and does not want to be hospitalized, he or she should be provided an accommodation so that she can stay in isolation, he said.
Besides, it recommended for increasing number of detection measures and selecting new hospitals for treating Covid-19 patients. It also advocated for using makeshift hospitals for patients with mild to moderate coronavirus infections.
The committee also recommended assigning adequate number of senior and junior healthcare staff at those hospitals and lab employees at the testing centres.
Besides, it asked the authorities to ensure supply of World Health Organization (WHO) –defined standard personal protective equipment (PPE) to health staff and recommended assigning an “expert committee” to ensure a proper supply.
The committee stressed on starting the treatment of anyone showing Covid-19-like symptoms.
“Many developed countries have started treatment of such people based on X-ray results and the symptoms. As community transmission of the virus is taking place here, this initiative is urgent now,” said the committee.
There should be a separate plan and preparations in case a large number of healthcare staff become infected. It is essential to ensure uninterrupted healthcare services, it said, recommending collection of five lakh Covid-19 PCR testing kits immediately.
Former Vice Chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Prof Nazrul said, “These recommendations were made based on the current situation. We know we have to restart our economic activities, but it obviously has to be done after ensuring health precautionary measures.”
He said the capital and Dhaka division were the main epicenters of the coronavirus outbreak in the country.
