New PCR lab to be installed in Cox's Bazar through private initiatives

Initiatives have been taken to set up a PCR (Polymeric Chain Re-Action) laboratory at Dulahazara Malumghat Christian Memorial Hospital in Chakaria upazila of Cox's Bazar to speed up Covid-19 tests in the district.

Md Kamal Hossain, deputy commissioner of the district and also the president of the district's Corona Infection Prevention Committee, said, "There is no possibility of setting up another lab for coronavirus testing in Cox's Bazar with the government funding. But as the number of corona-infected patients is increasing here, the PCR lab is going to be installed through personal initiatives."

It would be the third PCR lab in the district, said Md Kamal.

Helal Uddin Ahmed, senior secretary of the local government division and coordinator of Covid-19 outbreak prevention activities in the district, Zafar Alam, lawmaker from Cox's Bazar-1 (Chakaria-Pekua) constituency, and the district administration had taken the step to install the laboratory, said the deputy commissioner.

"I have already talked to the authorities of Dulahazara Malumghat Christian Memorial Hospital about the matter," Md Kamal said.

The cost of installing a PCR machine was more than Tk1.1 crore, he said.

However, the money is being collected through private initiatives.

"No financial assistance from the government is being taken for this," said the deputy commissioner.

He hoped that the laboratory would be launched between June 20 and 25.