The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) will begin the much-awaited antigen testing in the country from Saturday, December 5.
The health service organization has selected ten bordering districts as these areas have been witnessing a rise in infection in recent years.
Confirming the matter, Professor Dr Nasima Sultana, additional director (admin) of DGHS, said: “Along with the remoteness of these particular districts, the demand and status of facilities have been taken under consideration.
“The testing will start from the very first day (Dec 5) of next week,” she said.
For instance, the people of Jessore, who are moving around frequently, need better facilities of testing, she explained.
The ten districts are Panchagar, Gaibandha, Joypurhat, Paruakhali, Meherpur, Munsiganj, Brahmanbaria, Jessore, Madaripur and Sylhet, according to sources at the DGHS.
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Asked about the DGHS’s daily target of the tests, Nasima Sultana said: “Right now, it’s not possible to say anything about the number as only people with symptoms will be tested.”
Meanwhile, the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) has provided necessary training to the required manpower of the ten districts. Ten physicians, ten medical technologists and ten statisticians have been training in this regard.
The process of starting rapid (antigen and antibody) tests in the country gained momentum when the DGHS expressed its support for the introduction of antibody and antigen tests in the country in June.
Later, the Health Minister Zahid Maleque, at a medical protective gear handover program in late August, announced the government’s decision to approve antigen tests, which turned into reality on September 21.
In October, the government announced that it was buying 200,000 antigen test kits. At the same time, the DGHS, through the IEDCR, tested several antigen kits. Finally, with kits in hand, the DGHS is all set to begin the tests.
