Tackling the COVID-19 pandemic: The Bangladesh perspective

Abstract

An outbreak of a COVID-19 pandemic disease, caused by a novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, has posed a serious threat to global human health. Bangladesh has also come under the attack of this viral disease. Here, we aimed to describe the responses of Bangladesh to tackle the COVID-19, particularly on how Bangladesh is dealing with this novel viral disease with its limited resources. The first case of a COVID-19 patient was detected in Bangladesh on March 8, 2020. Since then, a total of 263,503 peoples are officially reported as COVID-19 infected with 3,471 deaths until August 11, 2020. To combat the COVID-19, the government has taken various steps viz. diagnosis of the suspected cases, quarantine of doubted people and isolation of infected patients, local or regional lockdown, closure of all government and private offices, increase public awareness and enforce social distancing, etc. Moreover, to address the socio-economic situations, the government announced several financial stimulus packages of about USD 11.90 billion. However, the government got 3 months since the disease was first reported in China, but the country failed in making proper strategies including contact tracing, introducing antibody/antigen-based rapid detection kit, and also failed to make multi-disciplinary team to combat this disease. Further, limited testing facilities and inadequate treatment service along with public unawareness are the major challenges for Bangladesh to tackle this situation effectively. Along with the government, personal awareness and assistance of non-government organizations, private organizations, researchers, doctors, industrialists, and international organizations are firmly required to mitigate this highly contagious disease.

Significance for public health

A novel coronavirus, named SARS-CoV-2, causes COVID-19 disease. This has emerged as a serious threat to human health and economy of the whole world. Bangladesh is one of the densely populated countries in the world, which also has come under attack of COVID-19. The first case of COVID-19 patient was detected in Bangladesh on March 8, 2020. Since then, a total of 30,205 peoples are officially reported as COVID-19 infected with 432 deaths. This lethal COVID- 19 drastically hit the economy of Bangladesh, with 170 million of inhabitants. The local and regional lockdown has already suspended almost all economic activities. However, limited health care service facilities of the country along with public unawareness are the major problems for Bangladesh to tackle this situation effectively. Of note, a large number of low-income workers, day-laborers need to go outside to earn daily income for their livelihood that causes mass transmission. Moreover, many hospitals, some doctors, nurses and other health officials are reluctant to provide treatment to COVID-19 patients and also non- COVID-19 patients. This report described the responses of Bangladesh to tackle the dreadful COVID-19 and discussed prevailing challenges, and how to mitigate this highly contagious disease with limited resources.