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The United States has provided Bangladesh with 500,000 dengue NS1 rapid diagnostic test kits to support the country’s ongoing efforts to detect and treat dengue patients.
The kits were provided through the US government-funded STRIDES programme and handed over to Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain by US Chargé d’Affaires to Bangladesh Trishita Mowla at Kurmitola Multicare Specialised Hospital in Dhaka on Thursday.
The health minister instructed officials to distribute the kits across the country as quickly as possible.
He said the handover ceremony was held at the hospital considering traffic congestion and accessibility in Dhaka. However, all the kits will first be deposited with the Central Medical Stores Depot (CMSD) and later distributed by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) to district and upazila hospitals based on demand.
Sakhawat said the government also has sufficient stocks of dengue antigen test kits and IV saline, in addition to the newly received supplies.
“Therefore, the health sector is prepared to ensure necessary testing and treatment even if dengue cases increase in any part of the country,” he said.
The minister also said the government is considering introducing a dengue vaccine in Bangladesh. However, he stressed that its effectiveness and safety must be ensured as the vaccine is expensive.
He said discussions are underway with the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and Gavi on the matter, and a final decision will be taken in line with international guidelines.
Additional Secretary of the Health Services Division Md Rafiqul Islam, Additional Director General of the DGHS Prof Dr Md Zahid Raihan, Kurmitola Multicare Specialised Hospital Director Brig Gen Md Saidur Rahman, and senior officials from the US Embassy and the Ministry of Health were present at the event.