Since the start of COVID-19 global outbreak, WHO has provided Bangladesh’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare medical supplies and equipment worth USD 5.6 million and additional supplies are in the pipeline.
Dr. Aulakh handing to Dr. Mohammad Khurshid, DG DGHS, list of supplies provided by WHO to Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. WHO Bangladesh/ C. Bercaru
“Weeks before the first case has been detected in Bangladesh, WHO supported the Government for early preparedness and response, including by bringing in essential supplies like Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), test kits, sample collection materials and so on, amidst global shortages and disrupted international chains of supplies,” says Dr. Bhupinder Aulakh, WHO Deputy Representative to Bangladesh and Team Leader, Health Emergencies.
Testing kits provided by WHO to Government of Bangladesh. WHO Bangladesh/ C. Bercaru
By land, water or air, using local procurement as well as its global supply chains and in cooperation with other UN agencies and development partners, WHO managed to bring in much-needed supplies to protect health workers, treat patients, strengthen testing capacity, and intensify contact tracing.
The latest transport of 186 000 tests, adds to a long list of supplies that includes nearly 3 million PPE items, 4 PCR machines and laboratory supplies, 130 000 sample collection kits, 500 Oxygen concentrators, 81 patient monitors systems, Infection Prevention and Control items, etc.
PPE brought in Bangladesh by WHO. WHO Bangladesh/ Angelina Halder
In achieving the continuity of supplies, WHO Bangladesh made use of the Emergency Global Supply Chain System, a globally supply portal created at the request of the United Nations Secretary-General and WHO Director-General. The system provides access to Personal Protective Equipment, Biomedical Equipment, and Diagnostics Supplies and ensures a globally coordinated approach to overcome supplies availability and logistic difficulties.
Additionally, WHO provided supplies from regional and global emergency stockpiles that proved essential supplies required in addressing the first phase of the pandemic.
Furthermore, the WHO’s network of field officers has been instrumental in the distribution of supplies from Dhaka to districts and sub-districts. Since April, over 100 vehicles are being used by WHO to transport necessary logistics to health facilities where they are most needed.
Medical equipment provided by WHO to Government of Bangladesh.
WHO continues to work with the Government of Bangladesh and health partners to further strengthen the country’s capacity to address the COVID-19 threat and to ensure that life-saving supplies are available for all range of medical interventions.