Photo: On behalf of CARE, Ramesh Singh, Country Director of CARE Bangladesh, and Ram Das, Deputy Country Director - Humanitarian of CARE Bangladesh were present in the inauguration ceremony. Credit: Asafuzzaman Captain/CARE Bangladesh
August 1, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh — CARE in Bangladesh opened a 40-bed isolation center in Rohingya Camp 4 Extension at Cox's Bazar to treat and support the Rohingya community with mild to severe COVID-19 symptoms. The center is well-equipped with separate dormitories, washrooms and bathing spaces for male and female patients where doctors, ambulance, medicines, oxygen support, and COVID-19 sample collection services are available around-the-clock. The center, running on solar power, also plans to provide three meals a day to all patients. People with mild COVID-19 symptoms will be referred to the center from the various health facilities across the camps. CARE will monitor suspected and mild COVID-19 cases in the isolation center while moderate and severe cases will be referred to advanced medical facilities for treatment.
At the opening event, Bangladesh Government’s Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC) Shah Rezwan Hayat expressed satisfaction as chief guest and thanked CARE for establishing such a center within such a short time that is complete with gender-sensitive features. He shared, “We should fight COVID-19 together. CARE has worked hard to set up this isolation center.”
Md. Mahfuzar Rahman, Camp-in-Charge of Camp- 4 Extension and Dr. Abu Toha M.R. H. Bhuiyan, Health Coordinator, Office of RRRC, were also present as special guests. They urged CARE to ensure round the clock services in the newly completed isolation center in coordination with Site Management Service (SMS) and other stakeholders.
Ramesh Singh, Country Director of CARE Bangladesh was present during the event where he stated, “This is an excellent example of our work together with Bangladesh Government and different stakeholders. CARE started their journey in Bangladesh for a long time with good collaboration and cooperation of the Government.”
Ram Das, Deputy Country Director – Humanitarian of CARE Bangladesh shared “From the very beginning, CARE received excellent support from the Office of the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner in setting up this isolation center. The need is huge and this is a small contribution from CARE to ease a bit the fight against COVID-19.”
Health volunteer Yeasmin, a Rohingya woman living in the camp, said, “The isolation center will be good for us. In the camps, many people live together in small shelters. If any family member is infected by coronavirus, isolating is not possible. The isolation center will help people stay separately from their family. If we find an infected person, we will refer them to the center for better treatment.”
About CARE
Founded in 1945, CARE is one of the largest and oldest humanitarian aid organizations fighting global poverty. CARE has a special focus on empowering and meeting the needs of women and girls and promoting gender equality and works in 100 countries around the world. To learn more, visit www.care.org and https://www.care-international.org/.