China hands over first batch of medical supplies to tackle dengue
Health
China handed over a consignment of critical medical supplies for tackling the country's dengue endemic to health ministry officials at the ministry's premises in the capital on Tuesday.
The supplies are part of a larger package China has pledged to donate in response to a government request for providing medical kits to combat an unprecedented dengue outbreak this year. The package includes modern blood component separation machines, modern blood collection and storage bags and dengue test kits.
At the event, while handing over the donated supplies, Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen also congratulated Dr Saima Wazed for being nominated as the next WHO regional director for Southeast Asia. Dr Saima now awaits greenlight by the WHO executive board in a January meeting to assume her new role.
"Her nomination also opens new channels and scopes for enhancing cooperation between China and Bangladesh in the health sector," Yao Wen said.
Among others present at the handover event were Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque, Health Services Division Secretary Md Jahangir Alam and Directorate General of Health Services chief Professor Dr Abul Bashar Mohammed Khurshid Alam.
China has pledged to hand over about 15 apheresis machines and 2,000 plateletpheresis kits to help collect platelets from a blood donor for a hospitalised dengue patient. It is worth noting that acute dengue infection causes a sharp fall in platelet levels in a patient.
The Chinese package also includes automated haematology analyser for counting blood cells, 10 lakh NS1 antigen kits for dengue testing, 5,000 triple blood bags for collecting and storing platelets from blood donors, among others.
Bangladesh has been witnessing the deadliest ever outbreak of dengue this year. About 1,425 people have died this year including the eight new deaths recorded in the 24 hours till Tuesday morning.
About 1,895 more patients were hospitalised with the viral fever in the 24 hours till Tuesday morning, according to the Directorate General of Health Services.
So far this year, the health directorate has recorded 2,83,593 dengue cases and 2,75,613 recoveries
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