60-bed Covid-19 isolation and treatment centre set up in Teknaf

A 60-bed isolation and treatment centre has been set up in Teknaf of Cox's Bazar to provide healthcare to Covid-19 patients from the Rohingya refugee camps and the local community.

Save the Children, with support from UK Aid and United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) has set up the centre named The Severe Acute Respiratory Infection Isolation and Treatment Centre (SARIITC) near camp 21 in Chakmarkur union.

In consultation with the Ministry of Health and Inter Sector Coordination Group (ISCG) in Cox's Bazar, this isolation and treatment centre was constructed following the guidance of the World Health Organization (WHO).

The centre will start providing health services from July 4.

Save the Children in Bangladesh Country Director Onno van Manen said SARIITC will offer care for moderate to severe cases of people suspected of being infected with or confirmed to have Covid-19.

"The centre will be staffed by an expert team of 80 health professionals and support staff, including Save the Children's Emergency Health Unit. The plans for the centre include a dedicated area where pregnant women with Covid-19 can safely give birth and patients can access gender-based violence support services if needed," he added.

A press release from Save the Children noted that an additional 1,000 to 1,500 isolation beds will be provided in the camps to support Covid-19 patients once the treatment centre is at full capacity.

Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Mahbub Alam Talukder, Additional Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Kazi Mohammad Mozammel Hoque, Cox's Bazar Civil Surgeon Dr Md Mahbubur Rahman, ISCG Senior Coordinator Nicole Epting and WHO Health Sector Coordinator Dr Mukeshkumar Prajapati were present at the virtual inauguration programme.