US provides COVID-19 safety equipment to FSCD

DHAKA, May 11, 2020 (BSS) – US Embassy here today donated essential
personal protective equipment (PPE) to Fire Service and Civil Defense (FSCD) as part of U.S. assistance to Bangladesh’s COVID-19 response efforts.

US ambassador to Bangladesh Earl Miller and representative of the U.S.
military’s Indo-Pacific Command handed over the supply to Fire Service and Civil Defense (FSCD) Director of Training, Planning, and Development LTC Zulfiker Rahman and Assistant Director Mohammed Abdul Momen, a US embassy press release said.

The equipment delivered today includes 1,000 KN95 surgical masks, 800 200- milliliter bottles of hand sanitizer, 500 pairs of surgical gloves, 300
hazardous materials (HAZMAT) suits, 100 protective masks, and 50 medical
goggles, all of which were sourced locally from Bangladeshi companies.

The health and home affairs ministries will distribute the PPE equipment to
FSCD first responders working to protect local communities against the spread of COVID-19, said the release.

To date, the U.S. government has provided over $22 million to complement
the government of Bangladesh’s ongoing efforts to prepare and respond to the spread of COVID-19 to improve rapid diagnosis, increase knowledge and dispel myths and misconceptions about the disease.

The fund has been also utilizing to sport heroic frontline including first
responders like fire fighters, who risk their lives daily to protect everyone
in Bangladesh, the release said and added that the PPE will enable FSCD first responders to respond quickly and safely to individuals who may be displaying COVID-19 symptoms.

The FSCD first responders, together with health care workers, police,
journalists and photojournalists, people who work in grocery stores and
pharmacies and other businesses, and in non-governmental and community organizations, perform remarkable acts of service every day, the release said quoting Ambassador Miller – “You are all genuine heroes … You deserve our immense gratitude.”

The US Embassy Dhaka continues working in close partnership with Bangladesh government on a range of programs to identify and alleviate critical medical shortages across the country, including on the distribution of PPE and other medical supplies to Bangladesh first responders and designated COVID-19 medical treatment facilities, said the release.

Today’s delivery of US funded, locally produced PPE is one of many US
Embassy Dhaka initiatives that demonstrated the US government’s continuing commitment to the Bangladeshi people, to promoting mutual understanding between the two countries, to and a strong partnership helping to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific region, it added.