1,600 doctors being trained across the country to reduce dengue deaths: State minister for health
Photo: Collected
To deliver quality dengue treatment across the country, 1,600 doctors in 40 districts are simultaneously being given day-long special training on an emergency basis under the supervision of specialist professors and physicians of the Bangladesh Society of Medicine, on the instructions of the state minister for health.
Inaugurating the training titled ‘Training of Doctors on Clinical Management of Dengue’ at Dhaka Medical College this morning, State Minister for Health Dr MA Muhith said efforts are under way to bring the death rate down to zero by making doctors skilled through science-based training, so that no dengue patient loses their life due to a mistake in treatment or management.
Principals of various medical colleges of the country, civil surgeons and doctors’ representatives from the grassroots to specialised hospitals joined the inaugural ceremony virtually and in person.
The state minister for health said, ‘This science-based training is so that no one infected with dengue loses their life for lack of treatment or through wrong management. Doctors are being made skilled in line with the clinical management standard for dengue, which will reduce the death rate and save many lives.’
Presenting statistics on the health sector’s success and the tireless service of doctors, he said 63,627 patients have been admitted to hospitals so far in this dengue season. Even amid limited facilities and intense pressure of patients, 59,083 of them have returned home fully recovered thanks to the tireless work of doctors.
MA Muhith said about 4,300 people are currently undergoing treatment. Even as patients increase, the country’s doctors and health workers are curing about 99 percent of those infected and returning them to their families.
He further said an effective health system is not built by relying only on emotion or unplanned decisions. Instead of the unplanned infrastructure development or sudden announcements of the past, an initiative has now been taken to tackle the crisis in a coordinated manner by training doctors on the basis of epidemiological data collection and science-based planning.
Stressing the professional dignity and social protection of doctors, the state minister for health said sweeping media trials against health workers are not acceptable. There should be no distance between service providers and the people. The desired reform of the health system must be taken forward by giving doctors due respect.
It was said at the event that before the main training, about 350 senior doctors were given ‘trainers’ training’ at the initiative of the Society of Medicine. They are now simultaneously training 1,600 doctors in 40 districts of the country.
