Two isolation and treatment centres for Covid-19 infected people were inaugurated in Cox’s Bazar for the refugees and Bangladeshi communities living there.
UN refugee agency UNHCR has built the two Severe Acute Respiratory Infection Isolation and Treatment Centres (SARI ITCs) -- one located within Camp Five of Kutupalong refugee camp, the second in Ukhiya upazila.
The centres will serve the needs of almost 200 Covid-19 positive patients with moderate to severe Covid-19 symptoms, said a statement of UNHCR Bangladesh on Wednesday.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) in the district Md Kamal Hossain, Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC) Md Mahbub Alam Takluder, and representatives from partners Relief International, Food for the Hungry, BRAC and WHO jointly inaugurated the centres.
“From the government side, we are very grateful to UNHCR. In this urgent Covid-19 situation, UNHCR has made this facility which will help many Covid-19 positive patients, both inside and outside of the camps,” said Md Kamal Hossain, deputy commissioner of Cox’s Bazar district at the second inauguration ceremony for the 144-bed SARI ITC in Ukhiya.
“While there are cases in both the camps and the host community, now people have a place to come for isolation and proper treatment, where they can recover and return to their communities. This will keep the community safe. This has been a truly collective effort and achievement,” said Hinako Toki, senior operations manager, UNHCR Cox’s Bazar.
This is part of a broader humanitarian effort by all partners in Cox’s Bazar to provide support to the government of Bangladesh to combat Covid-19, and to ensure capacity to respond to the clinical needs of those with the most severe symptoms.
A total of 12 SARI ITCs will be constructed overall, with a capacity of approximately 1,900 beds for refugees and host community, said a statement of UNHCR Bangladesh.
Additional resources and support including personal protective equipment (PPE) have already been provided to existing national health care facilities in Cox’s Bazar district as well as to primary health centres within the Rohingya refugee camps, it read.
UNHCR will also soon complete the preparation of an 18-bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in the Sadar Hospital in Cox’s Bazar, with 10 ICU beds and eight high dependency beds, as well as providing staffing for those with the most severe needs, the statement added.
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