US provides medical logistics to Fire Service

The United States on Monday provided essential medical logistics to Fire Service and Civil Defense (FSCD) as part of US assistance to Bangladesh’s COVID-19 response efforts. The US Embassy in Dhaka donated equipment 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.

US Ambassador Earl Miller and representatives of the US military’s Indo-Pacific Command handed over the PPEs to Fire Service and Civil Defense Director of Training, Planning, and Development LTC Zulfiker Rahman and Assistant Director Mohammed Abdul Momen. To date, the US has provided over $22 million to complement 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, and support heroic frontline, including FSCD first responders, who risk their lives daily to protect everyone in Bangladesh.

The Bangladesh Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) will distribute the PPE equipment to FSCD first responders working to protect local communities against the spread of COVID-19. The PPE will enable FSCD first responders to respond quickly and safely to individuals who may be displaying COVID-19 symptoms.