Health Minister Zahid Maleque
Advanced Covid clinical management course launched for doctors
A web-based advanced Covid-19 clinical management course has been launched for Bangladeshi doctors considering the Covid-19 situation.
Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Monday night launched the course, developed by Brown University, USA, based on their internationally renowned course curricula.
The course is aligned with Bangladesh’s national case management and critical care guidelines, and was reviewed and endorsed by a working group of national experts under the leadership of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Read:Pfizer, Sinopharm shots to start June 19: Health Minister
This free self-learning, pre-recorded course with videos and interactive modules is meant for doctors in Bangladesh who are involved in Covid-19 clinical case management.
It is developed with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the US government’s leading development agency.
Zahid Maleque thanked everyone involved in the development of this online course.
“In recent days, we’re witnessing an escalation of Covid-19 cases. To address this, and as part of our preparedness, this collaborative training course will help all government and private physicians working at the sub-district, district, and tertiary level hospitals to have the best evidence-based clinical knowledge on Covid-19 in Bangladesh," he said.
Efforts intensified to get Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines from US: FM
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Wednesday said the government has intensified its efforts to have vaccine jabs from the United States (US) as it will share up to 60 million doses of its Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine with other countries.
“We’re expecting it (vaccine) much,” Dr Momen told reporters at his residence adding that Bangladesh Ambassador to US M Shahidul Islam is in touch with the officials concerned of the US government.
Also Read: Dhaka hopeful of getting vaccine doses from China before Eid
The Foreign Minister said US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl Miller is likely to meet him on Thursday to have an update on the overall issues, including oxygen supply to Bangladesh.
“But we’ve heard that their priority is India and Brazil as many people died in these two countries recently,” he said.
Dr Momen said the Indian diaspora is strongly lobbying with the US government so that the US sends a whole lot of vaccine doses to India. “They’re very powerful. One lady is taking the lead.”
He also requested the Bangladeshi diaspora to approach the US government so that they feel the urgency with communication from all sides.
Dr Momen said the United States assured the world of making Covid-19 vaccines available for other countries, including in Bangladesh, once they have surplus reaching the level of mass vaccination in the US.
“I can assure you when we can reach the level of the critical mass vaccination and we’ve surplus, we’ll absolutely make vaccines available in whatever different ways,” said John Kerry, the US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate told reporters during his recent visit to Bangladesh.
Dr Momen said they had received proposals from other sources like receiving vaccines from some European countries which they are not using.
Also Read: Local pharma seeks permission to bring Moderna vaccine: DGHS DG
“But their total amount of available vaccines is very small in size whereas we need 2 lakh vaccines per day,” he said adding that the possibility of that front is not very bright.
The Foreign Minister reiterated that the Chinese government is working to start delivering 5 lakh doses of vaccine as a gift before Eid al-Fitr as two dates are mentioned – May 10 or 12.
He said Chinese Ambassador in Dhaka Li Jiming recently informed them that vaccines will start arriving here before Eid while the Health Minister Zahid Maleque shared a more specific date -- May 10.
Responding to a question, the Foreign Minister said the government is not shifting its attention from India as there is an agreement with Serum Institute of India to get 3 crore doses of vaccine.
He said India is yet to reply as Bangladesh sought at least 30 lakh doses of vaccine under the agreement to address the immediate demand in Bangladesh. “We’ll procure vaccines wherever we get those.”
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday reaffirmed that the government will procure vaccines at any cost to protect people from coronavirus. "We’re bringing more vaccines, no matter how much money is required; we will bring more vaccines."
Bangladesh has received 7 million of Oxford-AstraZeneca covid-19 vaccine doses produced by Serum Institute of India (SII) through its contract. Bangladesh also received 3.3 million doses of vaccine as a bilateral partnership gift. This is the largest amount sent from India to any country.
Also Read: Vaccines to be procured at any expense, says PM Hasina
The Foreign Minister said Russia is very interested to give vaccines to Bangladesh and sent documents to have a government-to-government agreement.
“They shared their issues. Our Health Ministry will share their points,” Dr Momen said he had a conversation with Health Minister Zahid Maleque, especially wanting to know what will be the penalty if they fail to deliver vaccines timely after signing an agreement.
Medical college admission test on Apr 2 as per schedule: Minister
Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Wednesday said the test for admission to medical colleges will be held on April 2 next in compliance with health guidelines.
"Examinees will sit at a distance of 3 feet. Everyone has to wear a mask, and there’ll be sanitizers," he said while talking to reporters after a meeting on medical college admission test at his ministry's conference room.
Also read: 5 held for fraudulence with fake MBBS test question paper
The minister said around 1.22 lakh examinees will sit for this year's examination which will be held at 55 centres. The number of centres will be increased, if needed, he added.
Zahid Maleque said," Coaching centres will remain closed before, during and after the examination, and no photocopy machine will be allowed in the vicinity of any exam centre. "
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Bangladesh, Canada launch Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Year of Action
Canada’s Minister of International Development Karina Gould and Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Tuesday jointly launched a ‘Year of Action’ on nutrition, which will include a series of commitment-making moments.
Covid-19: Bangladesh launches antigen tests in 10 districts
Bangladesh on Saturday launched antigen-based rapid testing in districts for detecting Covid-19.
Covid-19 2nd wave to be tackled jointly with private hospitals: Minister
The possible second wave of coronavirus in the country have to be tackled with joint efforts of private and government hospitals, said Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Sunday.