Coronavirus infections are on the rise, according to Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Malek. “We have said before that we have to follow the rules of hygiene, we have to wear masks, but no one has listened to us,” he lamented.
He was speaking to reporters after laying the foundation stone of a 460-bed integrated cancer, kidney, and heart disease unit in eight divisional cities of the country at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital on Sunday (January 9th) morning.
The minister said, “I said that public gatherings should be reduced, social events should be conducted by the health rules. But sadly, not a single person listened to them. As a result, the rate of infection is increasing in the country. At the same time, the number of patients in the hospital is also increasing.”
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“You know the rate of infection is rising in the country,” he said. Even yesterday, the country’s infection rate was close to 6 percent. Ever since the infection began to spread, we have been preaching with caution.
Regarding what to do in this situation, Zahid Malek said, some steps have already been taken by the government. A notification will be issued today or tomorrow to comply with the hygiene rules. This will send a message across the country to implement the guidelines that were discussed earlier. We have learned from the cabinet that its effectiveness will also start very soon.
“But no matter how many instructions we send, it’s up to the people to decide if they are complying. So we have to be aware of ourselves. Children are being infected, even adults are being infected. We have to be responsible for tackling the infection,” he added.
He added that the government would have to take a tougher stance if the outbreak continued. And at the moment we are seeing the symptoms of the infection, the infection is growing very fast.
The minister mentioned that even in the last one week, the corona of two to two hundred and fifty people daily has been identified in the country. Now the infection is close to 6 percent. The number of patients has also increased from two hundred and fifty to over eleven hundred. This is very scary for us. We all need to be aware.
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Earlier in the day, the minister said a 460-bed integrated cancer, kidney, and heart disease unit has been inaugurated under medical college hospitals in eight divisional cities of the country. As a result, from now on people will get these specialized services in all the divisional cities.
Noting that cancer is on the rise in the country, he said that one lakh people die of cancer every year. There are one half lakh in this disease, 20 lakh under treatment.
The health minister also said that these deaths are due to various reasons including adulterated food, drugs, and uncontrolled living.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was also present on the occasion as the chief guest. Foreign Minister was also present. AK Abdul Momen, former Vice-Chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) and Member of Parliament Prof. Pran Gopal Dutt, BSMMU VC Professor. Dr. Sharfuddin Ahmed, Senior Secretary of the Department of Health Services Lokman Hossain Mia, Director General of the Department of Health ABM Khurshid Alam etc.