COVID-19: Turkey sends medical equipment to Bangladesh

By Md. Kamruzzaman

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AA) - Turkey's state-run aid agency on Monday delivered medical equipment to a major port city in southeastern Bangladesh as assistance in fighting against the spread of the novel coronavirus, official sources said.

A total of 10,180 COVID-19 cases have been reported so far in the city of Chottogram, including 195 deaths, according to data by the civil surgeon office.

"We've received 1,000 N95 masks, 1,000 Personal Protective Equipment suits, two ventilators and 5,000 surgical masks for the two main medical service centers of the city," local civil surgeon Sheikh Fazle Rabbi told Anadolu Agency.

The materials will be used at the Chottogram General Hospital and Chottogram Medical College Hospital.

Applauding the supplies donated by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) Rabbi added that the Turkish supplies would contribute to stemming the pandemic as the country continues to struggle against it.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, TIKA's country coordinator Ismail Gundogdu underlined that Bangladesh was a friendly country and said: "For the welfare of the Bangladeshi people, TIKA has been working for a long time and we'll continue the service."

He added: "Since 2014, TIKA has completed many projects for the people of Bangladesh and we hope that this latest medical equipment will help Bangladesh's capability to continue its struggle against the pandemic."

In the first week of June, the agency also distributed the same amount of medical equipment in the capital Dhaka through Bangladesh's Foreign Ministry.

Meanwhile, the more than 164 million strong South Asian country has recorded 44 new deaths in the last 24 hours, pushing the overall toll to 2,096, according to a Health Ministry report published Monday evening.

Total infections also stand at 165,618, with 3,201 new cases, the report added.