Only thermometers to detect coronavirus at Akhaura!

Thermometers are the only hope in Brahmanbaria’s Akhaura immigration check-post to detect the fast-spreading new coronavirus, a flu-like virus that originated in China and claimed over 130 lives so far.
Although no cases of the virus has been reported in Bangladesh yet, the government has reportedly set up screening processes at the land, sea and airports across the country.
However, the health desk set up by Brahmanbaria Health Department at Akhaura lacks detection equipments and the staff has to rely completely on thermometers and stethoscopes despite the fact that around 1,500 people cross through the immigration check-post every day.
The desk is being run by a medical technologist and community healthcare provider and passengers of both India and Bangladesh travelling through the border have complained of the lax attitude towards such a sensitive issue.
Rajib Ahmed Bhuiyan, a Bangladeshi passenger says, “Coronavirus has spread in China. Neighbouring India shares borders with China.”
“There are lots of passengers who travelled to China and India. In such a situation the Akhaura Health Desk is being run just for the sake of it,” he added.
He said that without proper equipment and preparation, setting up the desk is redundant.
Another traveler Mamun Mia said that the passengers were being questioned instead of being tested. “It’s a joke. You can’t detect a disease this way.”
Dipti, a traveler from India, says that both India and Bangladesh need to step up and be more conscious of the fatal disease.
Akhaura Health Complex Medical Technologists Gokul Chandra Mandal, Nazmul Alam and Mahbubul Alam who have been taking turns at the health desk, say that in the last three days they didn’t have equipment and if anyone is found to have a cold they will be taken to the health complex to be tested.
Meanwhile, Brahmanbaria Civil Surgeon Md Shah Alam said that they are questioning the passengers as the health minister said installing thermal detectors everywhere was not possible.
He added that those who have recently travelled to China and have a cold will be tested.