Bangladesh is a developing country with critical shortage of medical supplies. It was of vital importance to provide assistance in the shortest possible time to remote coastal regions. The transportation and communication system has been shut down to limit the spread of COVID-19 virus as a mandated lockdown situation was prevalent across the country.
In the first few weeks of April 2020, we managed a small group of concerned citizens of Bangladesh gathered to address the impending COVID -19 pandemic that has affected over 200 nations globally, resulting in a health and financial crisis of proportions unseen in modern history. In rural Bangladesh, this condition was expected to peak around the end of April. The combined effort of PSLF (Promoting Sustainable Livelihoods Foundation), UBOMUS, USHA Bangladesh provided the much needed supplies in the face of the prevailing difficult circumstances. They managed to distribute the supplies to the affected areas in spite of logistic hurdles to 41 Medical Centers and 10 individual doctors across the country.
Garments’ industry supplies were ordered from China amid airline closures and local lockdown conditions. Masks of the non-surgical type were locally manufactured, stitched at breakneck speed in order to meet the unexpected need. A small covered van, usually used to distribute solar lighting supplies to remote regions was utilized to make the trips to these far flung areas across Southern Bangladesh. Upazila Health Complexes across Bangladesh were selected to receive medical supply packages with special focus on remote areas of Coastal Bangladesh.”…please add “Remote areas are generally the most difficult to reach for the public sector.
Upazila Health Complexes across Bangladesh were selected to receive medical supply packages with special focus on remote areas of Coastal Bangladesh. It is probable that very few agencies will reach these areas in time to provide help, in case there is an urgent need for medical supplies in the near future. Masks were also shipped to Italy and to the United States at the height of the Pandemic to help with the emergency situation in those countries.
- Total number of products: 2,600 PPE.
- Total number of masks: 26,500 (combination mostly surgical, with a handful of non-surgical masks)
- Number of Hospitals: 12
- Number of private Hospitals: 9
- Number of Government operated Upazila Health Complexes: 41
- Number of Medical Colleges: 1
- The locations of the Hospitals, Clinics and Health Complexes are provided in the Digital Map below.
- Source of funding was PSL Foundation, UBOMUS, USHA Bangladesh, UBOMUS
- Total funding: Tk 12 lakhs (USD 16,500)
