Bangladesh is going to send medical aid to West African countries battered by deadly Ebola virus.
Health Minister Mohammad Nasim on Tuesday said they would send different types of medicines worth Tk 10 million to Sierra Leon, Liberia and Mali.
The Ebola viral disease that has killed 90 percent of the infected has no proven cures and there is no vaccine to prevent infection.
So, treatment focuses on alleviating symptoms such as fever, vomiting and diarrhoea – all of which can contribute to severe dehydration.
The 65 types of medicines range from paracetamol to costly antibiotic.
The minister said they had responded “quickly” to the request of those countries.
The World Health Organisation declared the deadly disease as an “international health emergency”.
WHO has advised those West African countries to carry our “exit screening” at all ports and suggested travel restrictions on Ebola-infected people.
Weak health systems and lack of human, financial and material resources have made it different for those countries to fight against the disease.
Health minister Nasim said Bangladesh was considered as a “friend” to the people of those countries due to its participation in peace-keeping missions.
In Sierra Leon, Bangla is the second language, “So we’ve to stand by them,” he said.
The armed forces will send those medicines under their mechanism. They will also send personal protective equipment (PPE) for their colleagues deployed in those countries.
However, no Bangladeshi has been infected so far, the government says.
Source: Bd news24
