Healthcare workers are on the frontline to treat patients during this battle against the Covid-19 pandemic. Sadly, many healthcare workers across the world had lost their lives to Covid-19 and thousands contracted the virus while in the line of duty.
Bangladesh first saw the Covid-19 death on March 18 and the first death of a doctor from the disease was reported on April 15.
The country reported first three cases of Coronavirus on March 8, 2020, and it has so far recorded 5,52,087 Covid-19 cases and 8,489 deaths till Tuesday, according the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Md Moyeen Uddin, Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Osmani Medical College Hospital, died on April 15 while undergoing treatment at Kurmitola General Hospital in Dhaka after getting infected with Coronavirus.
He was the first doctor to die in the country from Covid-19.
Dr Moyeen tested positive for Covid-19 on April 5 after Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) tested his swab sample. He was the first Coronavirus patient in Sylhet.
A total of 131 doctors have so far died while working during the pandemic, according to Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA). Of the deceased physicians, 120 were male and 11 were female.
Moreover, some 8,162 frontline healthcare workers (doctors, nurses and hospital staff) have contracted the virus so far across the country.
The capital city Dhaka remains top with 834 infected doctors followed by 492 in Chattogram, 349 in Sylhet, 143 in Mymensingh and 131 in Cumilla, says BMA.
The number of Coronavirus infected nurses was 1983 nurses while 3286 staff contracted the virus across the country, according to BMA.
“Many doctors have lost their lives working for the good of others under most difficult circumstances in the on going Covid-19 pandemic. The death of a fellow doctor is always tragic, but to lose so many in the hands of the virus is devastating,” BMA Secretary General Dr. Md. Ehteshamul Huq Choudhury told The New Nation on Tuesday.
“No one should have to risk their lives or health because of their work, and we honour those doctors who have made this ultimate sacrifice. We offer our profound sorrow and heartfelt condolences to the families of these committed physicians who dedicated their lives in the most challenging time, battling against this highly infectious and deadly virus,” he added.
The BMA leader also said doctors caring for Covid-19-infected patients are always at high risk of contagion and possible mortality. “Physicians from all specialities died from Covid and the average age of the deceased physicians was 60 years (range 40-60 years),” he noted.
Dr. Ehteshamul also raised the issue of government declared compensation for health workers saying that the authorities should take proactive measures to provide the financial aid to the frontline health workers who get infected with Covid-19 while performing their duty.
“Only the family of deceased Dr Moyeen Uddin received compensation so far. But many are yet to get the reward,” he added.
On April 23, Ministry of Finance issued a circular stating that all government officials including doctors, nurses and health workers will be compensated if they are infected with Covid-19 while on duty.
The compensation amount for getting infected ranges from Tk 5 lakh to 10 lakh while the compensation for death with the infection ranges between Tk 25 lakh to 50 lakh, as per the salary grade of the employee.
“Only the family of deceased Dr Moyeen Uddin received compensation so far. But many infected healthcare workers are yet to get the compensation,” he added.
Dr. Ehteshamul said, “It is the duty of Health Ministry to submit the list of affected healthcare workers seeking compensation from the Finance Ministry. But it is yet to do so though the BMA helped the Health Ministry by preparing a list of virus infected frontline healthcare workers.”
“The issue has already been plunged into a ‘bureaucratic’ tangle which is very unfortunate and undesirable when doctors, nurses and hospital staff continue to treat patient during this Covid-19 pandemic risking their lives,” he observed.
