Directorate General of Health Services
DGHS closes 11 private Covid testing booths in Rooppur due to irregularities
Citing unequal competition and irregularities among the 11 approved private Covid-19 testing booths in the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project area in Pabna, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) announced them closed on Tuesday.
The 11 private organizations were mainly collecting samples of officials, workers of different organizations of the project and some general people of the district for testing of Covid-19.
The organizations were granted permission by a private organization named DNA Solution Ltd and by the Pabna Civil Surgeon office to conduct sample tests in the project area on certain conditions.
On July 18, the DGHS Director Dr Md Farid Hossain Mia sent a letter to the Pabna Civil Surgeon that said some of the organizations permitted by Dhaka based DNA solution and the Civil Surgeon Office are collecting samples from the area and taking them to test in Dhaka’s RT-PCR lab.
Read: DGHS to private labs: Suspend sample collection booths outside hospitals
Permission provided by private organizations for collecting samples has been banned by the DGHS as it is creating a competition among the organizations and resulting in many irregularities, the letter said.
Now these private organizations are facing a crisis as they have large dues owing from the organizations under the Rooppur project for Covid testing with them. Many samples the organizations collected through the 11 booths were also not tested.
Md Abdullah Khan, Director of one of the 11 private organizations called Famous Specialized Hospital, said that they were the first organization who got approval and they had been collecting samples for Covid-19 tests maintaining quality and rules.
“We never did any irregularity or rule breaking as our work was being monitored by the officials of the health department," he said.
Read: SAF launches Covid-19 testing booth for frontline doctors
If the DGHS provided them some time before issuing the orders they wouldn’t face such a big loss, he added.
Meanwhile, district’s Civil Surgeon Monisor Chowdhury said none of the 11 banned organizations have their own labs to test the samples for Covid-19. They were taking the samples to Dhaka for testing which drew questions over the quality and results of the tests, and there was an environment of unhealthy competition of sample testing among them, he added.
The Civil Surgeon said only those who have their own RT-PCR lab in the area would be allowed to do the work of collecting samplesfrom now on, but none of the 11 prohibited organizations did.
Eid holidays saw lower tests, higher infections: DGHS
Although the number of Covid tests marked a sharp fall during the eid holidays, the rate of infection of the virus did not fall in the country, said the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on Sunday.
“The number of tests was low as a little number of samples was collected during the last seven days due to the eid holidays. As a result, the total number of patients has declined. But in terms of percentage, the infection rate did not fall below 30 percent. Instead, the infection rate was 32.55 percent on July 24 (Saturday),” said DGHS spokesman Prof Nazmul Islam.
READ: Mass inoculation to restart Monday with Sinopharm, Tuesday with Moderna: DGHS
Speaking at a virtual press briefing on the country's Covid situation, he said the number of sample collection and Covid tests will increase significantly within a few days.
Nazmul said Dhaka is the worst-hit district in terms of Covid infection with more than four lakh identified virus cases.
He said the other badly affected districts are Chittagong Cumilla Sylhet, Bogra, Narayanganj, Khulna and Faridpur.
Nazmul said Rajshahi is the least affected district with only 16,416 patients.
In terms of divisional death rate, the DGHS official said Dhaka is now on top followed by Khulna.
Dr Nazmul said lockdown is an effective way to slow down virus transmission. “We’ll be able to contain the uptrend of the virus transmission by making the ongoing lockdown a success with active support from all.”
READ: 35-years-olds to be made eligible for Covid jabs: DGHS DG
He urged those eligible for vaccination to complete the registration through the government-approved ‘Surokkha’ app to receive the vaccine doses quickly.
Replying to a question, Nazmul said experts are examining the mobile ventilators that came from the United States. “These ventilators will be set up at different places based on necessity.”
81 dengue cases reported in 24 hrs: DGHS
Amid a rise in the number of dengue patients, authorities reported 81 more new cases in 24 hours until Saturday morning.
Some 336 patients diagnosed with dengue are receiving treatment at different government and private hospitals in the country as of Saturday morning, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Of them, 331 patients are receiving treatment at different hospitals in the capital while five others outside Dhaka.
Some 1139 patients have been admitted to different hospitals with dengue since January and 801 of them have been released after recovery.
The recent spike in dengue cases has added to the worries as the country continues to grapple with the devastating second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
The ongoing drives will continue in Dhaka South City Corporation areas to control dengue, said its mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh on Wednesday.
He said this while exchanging views with journalists after inaugurating an interim waste disposal center at Tantibazar intersection in Ward 36 of the city.
READ: 48 dengue cases reported in 24 hrs: DGHS
"Dengue situation is now under conrol although the number of dengue patients is a bit more this time due to heavy rainfall," the mayor said.
The DGHS reported 1,193 dengue cases and three confirmed dengue-related deaths in 2020.
According to official figures, 101,354 dengue cases and 179 deaths were recorded in Bangladesh in 2019.
Dengue fever was first reported in Bangladesh in 2000 when it claimed 93 lives. In the following three years, the fatalities almost fell to zero.
READ: Drives to continue to control dengue: DSCC mayor
However, the mosquito-borne viral infection struck again in 2018, killing 26, and infecting 10,148 people.
187 more die in Bangladesh as Covid havoc continues
As Bangladesh continues to struggle with the deadly 2nd wave of Covid-19 as the vaccination rate lags, the country lost 187 more lives in 24 hours till Friday morning.
The virus also infected 12,148 others during the period.
The new figures took the death tally to 17,465 and caseload to 10,83,922, according to a handout issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
READ: Covid-19: Government orders 66 crore vaccine doses worth RS 14,505 crore
The fresh cases were detected after testing 41,947 samples during the period, which took the positivity rate to 28.96 % from Thursday’s 27.23 %.
However, the fatality rate remained unchanged at 1.61% during the period.
The country saw a record number of 13,768 Covid cases on Monday and the highest-ever 230 deaths on Sunday.
READ: COVID-19:Expired liquid tubes used for collecting samples at Pabna UHC
Just like the last few days, Dhaka reported the highest deaths as 68 more people died with the fatal disease during this time, followed by 39 deaths in Khulna, 36 in Chattogram, 14 in Rajshahi, nine in Sylhet, eight in Barishal, seven in Mymensingh, and six in Rangpur.
Of them, 113 were men, and 74 were women.
READ: UN survey indicates progress in streamlining trade procedures despite COVID-19 crisis
Besides, two were within 11-20 years old, seven between 21-30, 11 between 31-40, 30 between 41-50, 36 between 51-60, 54 between 61-70, 30 within 71-80, 12 were between 81-90, four between 91-100, and one above 100 years old.
48 dengue cases reported in 24 hrs: DGHS
Amid a rise in the number of dengue patients, authorities reported 48 more new cases in 24 hours until Tuesday morning.
Some 236 patients diagnosed with dengue are receiving treatment at different government and private hospitals in the country as of Tuesday morning, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Of them, one patient is receiving treatment at a hospital outside Dhaka.
Also read: LGRD minister calls for public awareness to prevent dengue
Some 844 patients have been admitted to different hospitals with dengue since January and 608 of them have been released after recovery.
The recent spike in dengue cases has added to the worries as the country continues to grapple with the devastating second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
The DGHS reported 1,193 dengue cases and three confirmed dengue-related deaths in 2020.
Also read: Risk of dengue outbreak rises amid lockdown
According to official figures, 101,354 dengue cases and 179 deaths were recorded in Bangladesh in 2019.
Dengue fever was first reported in Bangladesh in 2000 when it claimed 93 lives. In the following three years, the fatalities almost fell to zero.
However, the mosquito-borne viral infection struck again in 2018, killing 26, and infecting 10,148 people.
30 more with dengue hospitalised in Dhaka in 24 hrs
Thirty new patients diagnosed with dengue were admitted to different hospitals in Dhaka in the last 24 hours until Saturday morning as the mosquito-borne disease continued to rise during monsoon, authorities said.
A total of 93 patients diagnosed with dengue are currently receiving treatment at 41 government and private hospitals in Dhaka while one outside the city, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Read: Risk of dengue outbreak rises amid lockdown
Meanwhile, none was reported to be receiving treatment for dengue in hospitals outside Dhaka.
A total of 434 patients have been admitted to different hospitals with dengue since January and of them, 341 have been released after recovery.
Health authorities reported 1,193 dengue cases and three confirmed dengue-related deaths in 2020.
Read: 18 dengue patients undergoing treatment at Dhaka hospitals
According to official figures, 101,354 dengue cases and 179 deaths were recorded in Bangladesh in 2019.
Dengue fever was first reported in Bangladesh in 2000 when it claimed 93 lives. In the following three years, the fatalities almost fell to zero.
Read: 23 new patients hospialized amid surge in dengue cases
However, the mosquito-borne viral infection struck again in 2018, killing 26, and infecting 10,148 people.
One in every 12 Bangladeshis aged 60 years or above may have dementia: Study
One in every 12 individuals 60 years or older in Bangladesh have dementia (prevalence 8%), says a national survey on Wednesday.
The burden is higher in Rajshahi (15%) and Rangpur (12%) than other divisions, and did not vary between urban and rural areas (8%).
The burden of dementia among females was found higher than males across all ages and divisions.
The study estimates that the total number of dementia cases in Bangladesh in 2020 could be about 1.1 million, including 0.28 million males and 0.83 million females.
The study projects that the number could increase to 1.37 million in 2025 and could be doubled in 2041 (2.4 million), which may increase even further if not intervened effectively.
On Wednesday, icddr,b in collaboration with the Non-Communicable Disease Control Programme of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and the National Institute of Neuroscience & Hospital (NINS), organised a virtual webinar titled “The burden of dementia among older people in Bangladesh: Findings of a National Survey” to disseminate the recently concluded survey findings.
Professor Dr Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam, Director General, DGHS, graced the occasion as the chief guest.
Dr Tahmeed Ahmed, Executive Director at icddr,b, and Prof. Quazi Deen Mohammad, Director, NINS were special guests, while Professor Dr Robed Amin, Line Director, NCDC Programme, DGHS chaired the event.
Dementia is a syndrome in which there is deterioration in memory, thinking, behaviour and the ability to perform everyday activities.
Also read: Drug can curb dementia's delusions, researchers find
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), about 50 million people have dementia globally, and 60 per cent of them are from low-and middle-income countries.
It is to be noted that there is very little information on dementia among the South Asian population, including Bangladesh.
Unavailability of data has challenged the policymakers to consider and develop strategies and programmes to provide quality care to its senior citizens who suffer the most.
The majority of the NCD prevention and control programmes target productive age groups with little emphasis on mental health.
Covid pandemic: Situation in Bangladesh worsening, 47 more die
Amid the growing concern over the rapidly increasing cases and the higher transmissibility of Delta variant, Bangladesh registered 2,436 new Covid cases in 24 hours till Sunday morning.
The deadly virus also claimed 47 more lives during the period, pushing up the fatalities to 13,118, said a handout released by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The fatality rate rose to 1.59% on Saturday from Friday’s 1.58% and it remained unchanged, said the DGHS handout.
READ: 13 more lives lost to Covid-19 at RMCH
The caseload reached 8,26,922 with the logging of the new cases.
The positivity rate declined to 12.99 percent on Sunday from Saturday’s 14.12 percent.
Of the deceased, Dhaka division recorded the highest 15 deaths.
So far, the country has completed testing of 61,75,112 samples, including 18,750 in the last 24 hours.
Of the deceased, all but one were 30 years of age. Of them, 29 were over 60-plus age group.
READ: India reports 80,834 new COVID-19 cases
Vaccination drive
Bangladesh, the prime recipient of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines, has suspended the registration for Covid-19 jabs due to vaccine shortage amid a delay in the arrival of shipments from India.
Some 42,05,167 people got the second dose of this vaccine while the number is 58,20,015 for the first one.
Besides, the total number of people receiving their first jab of Chinese Sinopharm vaccine is 2,162.
So far, four vaccines – Oxford-AstraZeneca (Covishield), Sputnik-V, Sinopharm, and Pfizer-BioNTech – have got the approval for emergency use in Bangladesh.
Vaccine procurement update
Bangladesh will soon receive 10 lakh and 800 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine soon under COVAX facility, said Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Friday.
Bangladesh Ambassador to the US conveyed the message of this development to the Foreign Minister.
Bangladesh, earlier sought 2 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine doses from the US for addressing Bangladesh's immediate needs but the US is yet to reply on that particular request.
China will deliver the second consignment of vaccine doses for Bangladesh as a gift of its government by June 13.
READ: Covid-19 in Bangladesh: Positivity rate hits 14.12%, highest in 50 days
Dr Momen said Bangladesh will send two special flights to bring 6 lakh Sinopharm vaccine doses and other medical supplies from China.
Just nine days after the arrival of the first batch of 500,000 doses of gifted vaccine in Bangladesh, China announced the provision of the second batch of gift doses to Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, seven million doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca Covishield reached Bangladesh and India.
Covid-19: Bangladesh registers 43 more deaths; positivity rate hits 11.03%
As Coronavirus-related deaths and infections keep growing in Bangladesh again, the country recorded 43 more deaths in the past 24 hours till Saturday morning.
Besides, 1,447 new cases were registered during the period, taking the country's caseload to 809,314.
With the latest death toll, the total number of fatalities rose to 12,801.
The daily infection rate climbed to 11.03% from Friday's 10.40% while the mortality rate remained static at 1.58%, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The new cases were detected after testing 13,115 samples.
Dhaka and Rajshahi divisions saw the highest fatalities during the period with 12 deaths each while Chattogram division witnessed eight deaths, Khulna five, Rangpur three, Mymensingh two and Sylhet one.
Of the deceased, 30 were men while 13 women.
Of them, one was below 10 years, one in his 20s, five are 30 years old, two of 40, 13 are of 50 old and 21 are above 60 years.
READ: 1st USAID consignment of Covid-19 response relief on way to Bangladesh
However, 749,425 patients have recovered so far, keeping the country’s recovery rate at 92.60%.
Bangladesh reported its first Covid cases on March 8 last year and the first death on the 18th of that month.
No oxygen shortage in frontier districts: DGHS
The frontier districts of Bangladesh have adequate oxygen in their stocks to deal with Covid-19 patients, DGHS spokesperson Dr Nazmul Islam said on Wednesday.
“Although the Covid positivity rate in frontier districts is much higher than the rest of the country, there’s no need to panic as hospitals have adequate medical supplies alongside oxygen in their stocks,” said the spokesperson of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
He said about 1,569 high-flow nasal cannulas and 1,469 oxygen concentrators have been provided across the country. “We also have more than 23,000 oxygen cylinders.”
READ: Focus on black fungus as it adds to woes, says DGHS
Nazmul Islam, however, said, “Everyone should follow health guidelines as Covid infection rate is on the rise again.”
According to the initial plan, he said, Pfizer vaccine will be given only in the capital. This vaccine will be given on a priority basis to those who have got registered, he added.
If students are there in the list, they will also be given priority, he said adding, “The date on which the Pfizer vaccination programme will begin has not yet been fixed.”
Covid situation in Bangladesh
Bangladesh recorded 34 more coronavirus-related deaths and 1,988 new cases in 24 hours till Wednesday morning as the country continues to grapple with the pandemic situation.
READ: Covid positivity rate rises in Bangladesh, 34 more die
The daily infection rate increased to 9.81 percent from Tuesday’s 9.47 percent, while the mortality rate remained static at 1.58 percent.
Among the deceased, 11 died in Dhaka division while five each in Khulna, Chattogram and Rajshahi divisions, 3 each in Sylhet and Rangpur and one in Barishal divisions.
Lockdown in districts
District administrations have been given the authority to enforce lockdowns in their areas if the Covid-19 situation deteriorates there, the cabinet secretary said on Monday.
READ: DGHS urges holidaymakers to return to Dhaka after 14 days
The government has already given such an instruction to local administrations, said Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam at a press briefing after a virtual Cabinet meeting held with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.