Holy Family hospital dedicated for Covid-19 patients

The Holy Family Red Crescent Medical College Hospital, which is run by a non-government organisation, will be treating Covid-19 patients from now on.

Health Minister Zahid Maleque, while speaking at an inaugural ceremony held at the auditorium of the hospital on Sunday, announced the hospital as a dedicated medical facility for novel coronavirus patients.

The hospital can treat 500 Covid-19 patients at a time, including those it can accommodate in its 120 cabins. It also has a modern lab, where PCR equipment will be installed soon.

"It is our pleasure that this hospital responded to our urges to make it a dedicated one for Covid-19 patients," said the health minister, who attended the event as a chief guest.

"The hospital has a reputation for providing good healthcare services, and I hope they will hold up that reputation while treating coronavirus patients as well," Malek further said. "Within the shortage possible time, we will set up a PCR lab here so that they can also test patients."

Dr Habibe Millat, vice-chairman of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, said, "Through an MoU [memorandum of understanding], the health ministry will run the hospital with us during the pandemic."

All operational costs, including the salary of near 800 staff members, will be provided by the health ministry.

"They will provide safety equipment for the health professionals as well," he added.

Among others, Hafiz Ahmed Mazumder, chairman of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, Asadul Islam, secretary of Health Care Division, Md Ali Noor, secretary of Health Education and Family Welfare Division, and Lutfur Rahman Chowdhury Helal, treasurer of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, also spoke at the event.