The government plans to send an additional 60 individuals—injured during the July-August mass uprising—abroad for advanced medical treatment, said Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum at a press conference this afternoon.
The health adviser spoke at a press conference this afternoon at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka. She presented a detailed overview of the treatment of those injured in the July-August mass uprising, and announced that a 1,000-bed hospital will be built in the Rangpur region.
She said, “So far, we have sent 40 individuals abroad for advanced treatment. They were sent based on the recommendations of a board comprising specialist doctors.”
She said, “So far, we have sent 40 individuals abroad for advanced treatment. They were sent based on the recommendations of a board comprising specialist doctors.”
She said, “We received Tk 25.37 crore from the Chief Adviser’s Relief Fund for sending patients abroad. Of that, around Tk 19.5 crore has been spent. The remaining amount is still with us. The expenses incurred at the hospitals can be provided by the respective hospital authorities.”
Nurjahan Begum said, “Eight of the injured will be sent to Thailand and Singapore, while 21 will be sent to Turkey, and 31 to Pakistan.”
The Health Adviser said that even after more than half a century of independence, the country still does not have its own air ambulance. Among those sent overseas, four critically injured individuals were transported to foreign hospitals in air ambulances rented from Thailand.
Of the 40 individuals sent abroad for medical care so far, 26 have been sent to Thailand, 13 to Singapore, and one to Russia.
A total of 26 specialist doctors have arrived in the country from China, the UK, the US, France, Singapore, and Thailand to assist with treatment, she added.
The health adviser also said that more than 864 people have been confirmed dead so far, though some cases remain under verification. Over 14,000 have been reported injured. Both figures have been officially published in a government gazette. Additional information on the injured is still coming in and currently being verified.
Highlighting the government’s relentless efforts to ensure proper treatment for those injured in the July mass uprising, Nurjahan Begum said, “Among the injured, 21 have lost both eyes and 450 have lost one eye. They are suffering from severe trauma. The list of the deceased and injured is being updated and verified. We are trying to compile an accurate and error-free database, which requires utmost caution.”
The adviser also mentioned that several patients are still admitted at the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital (NIOH), and the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR).
“We had requested the Chinese Ambassador to gift us a set of robotic physiotherapy equipment, and China has fulfilled our request by providing a set. It is currently at the port in Chattogram. To install it, we will need about 6,000 square feet of space. We have secured the space at the Bangladesh Medical University, where it will be dedicated for use. Our injured individuals will be able to receive physiotherapy there,” she said.
In response to a question about whether there are specialised medical services available in Pakistan, the health adviser said, “Pakistan has developed significant technology due to landmine explosions. A doctor from the UK informed us that there is a specialised hospital in Lahore for those who have lost limbs, and he has recommended sending our patients there.”
Regarding the construction of the hospital in Rangpur, Prof Md Abu Jafor, Director General of DGHS said, “We are looking for at least 12 acres of land around the Teesta project area, located between Nilphamari, Rangpur, and Dinajpur.”
Md Saidur Rahman, Secretary of the Health Services Division; Prof Md Abul Kenan, Director of NITOR; Khair Ahmed Choudhury, Director of NIOH and Foyez Ahammad, the Chief Adviser’s senior assistant press secretary, were present at the conference, among others.
LND/BG
