U.S. Embassy Dhaka coordinated with the Ministries of Health and Railways to distribute personal protective equipment (PPE) to the COVID-19 response facility, the second in a series of planned distributions.
DHAKA, May 28, 2020 – United States Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl Miller and Embassy representatives of the U.S. military’s Indo-Pacific Command delivered today essential personal protective equipment (PPE) to Kamalapur Railway General Hospital Divisional Medical Officer Dr. Ibne Safi Abdul Ahad as part of continued U.S. assistance to Bangladesh’s COVID-19 response efforts. This is the second in a series of planned PPE distributions from the United States to Bangladesh. The first distribution, on May 11, provided PPE and medical equipment to the Fire Service and Civil Defense. To date, the U.S. government has provided over $25.7 million in assistance to complement the Government of Bangladesh’s ongoing efforts to prepare and respond to the spread of COVID-19, improve rapid diagnosis, increase knowledge and dispel myths and misconceptions about the disease, and support heroic frontline responders.
U.S. Embassy Dhaka-donated equipment delivered today includes 700 KN95 surgical masks, 500 200-milliliter bottles of hand sanitizer, 500 pairs of surgical gloves, 300 hazardous materials (HAZMAT) suits, 50 face shields, 50 pounds of bleach powder, 10 infrared thermometers, six disinfectant sprayers, and three patient monitor/pulse oximeter machines, all of which were purchased locally from Bangladeshi companies. The Kamalapur Railway General Hospital is a Government of Bangladesh-designated COVID-19 response facility supporting Bangladesh Ministry of Health (MoH) COVID-19 response efforts. The PPE will enable hospital staff to protect themselves and patients during treatment while containing the spread of COVID-19.
U.S. Embassy Dhaka continues working in close partnership with the Government of Bangladesh on a range of programs to identify and alleviate critical medical shortages across the country, including by distributing PPE and other medical supplies to designated COVID-19 medical treatment facilities and first responders. Today’s delivery of U.S.-funded, locally produced PPE is the second in a series of planned distributions, one of the many initiatives, demonstrating the U.S. government’s continuing commitment to the Bangladeshi people and to promoting mutual understanding and strong partnership between our two countries.
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the U.S. government has committed more than $900 million worldwide in emergency health, humanitarian, economic, and development assistance specifically aimed at helping governments, international organizations, and NGOs fight the pandemic. In Bangladesh, the $25.7 million in funding will support response and containment efforts across the country, building on more than $1 billion in health assistance provided to Bangladesh over the past 20 years. This funding emphasizes the long-term U.S. commitment to ensuring access to quality, lifesaving health services for all people in Bangladesh.
U.S. Embassy Dhaka is proud to donate this essential personal protective equipment (PPE) to the Kamalapur Railway General Hospital medical staff working to treat patients and protect local communities against the spread of COVID-19. The Hospital’s staff are critical front-line personnel working with first responders to confront this crisis by performing remarkable acts of service every day.
