Bangladesh to make 400,000 PPE

FIVE organizations in Bangladesh-Pay It Forward Bangladesh, Honest, Buet Alumni Association, Rotary Club Dhaka North-west and Manush Manusher Jonno Foundation-have teamed up to make personal protective equipment (PPE) for doctors and nurses, following concerns over shortage.

They will fund the initiative, under which around 400,000 PPEs will be produced initially.

"Pay it forward, BUET Alumni and Manusher Jonno Foundation came together with the idea and requested us to provide support in sourcing and the manufacturing process,” said a government official.

“We gave it some thought and started developing the idea. Later some generous people and organisations came forward to help. We got together with them and took the decision to produce PPEs..

"We are providing technical support of the product, managing production lines and monitoring sample to production; we are not involved in the funding, which is being provided by the five organisations and the general public,” he added.

As more coronavirus cases reported in Bangladesh, the demand for PPEs rose sharply.

Many public hospitals across the country have set up isolation units for possible coronavirus patients, but a lot of them lack adequate resources and equipment to provide necessary services.

Many doctors, nurses and staff members are finding it difficult to continue work owing to the growing risk of infection.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention detailed an outline for what constitutes as a standard PPE.

In Bangladesh, 33 people are affected with the virus, with three fatalities so far.