Corona hospital at ICCB to have all facilities

A hospital for corona patients at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) in the capital is being equipped with all facilities, including ventilation and ICU.

Bashundhara Group is not only constructing the country’s largest hospital for treatment of Covid-19 but also enriching it (the hospital) with all facilities needed for critical patients.

The convention centre will be used as a hospital for the time being and it will return to its previous shape facilitating trade fairs and other public and private events after the corona crisis is over.

The hospital’s operation is just a matter of time as the authorities concerned have expedited the construction work and installation of equipment.

Health Minister Zahid Maleque and Health Secretary Md Asadul Islam are expected to visit the ICCB in a couple of days, sources said on Tuesday.

High officials of the Health Engineering Department (HED) of the government visited the hospital and inquired about progress of the construction work on Tuesday. ICCB Chief Executive MM Jasim Uddin was also present.

Talking to the media, HED Additional Chief Engineer Abdul Hamid said officials of various departments of the government and Bashundhara Group are working together to expedite the construction work.

“The hospital will go into operation shortly. Majority of its work has already been completed. Now, ground carpeting is underway. Later, portable workstations for doctors and nurses will be ready,” he said.

ICCB Chief Executive MM Jasim Uddin said installation of equipment for the hospital is almost complete.

Workstations for doctors and nurse will be ready after installation of PVC carpeting on ground, he said, adding that the hospital may go into operation within four days.

Earlier, Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan had sent a written proposal to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to set up a makeshift hospital at the ICCB for corona patients.

Bashundhara Group Managing Director Sayem Sobhan Anvir later formally tendered the proposal to Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmed Kaikaus at the PMO. The prime minister accepted the proposal instantly. Anvir also donated Tk 10 crore to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund.

Bashundhara Group has dedicated its trade centre with 1,50,000 square feet and four convention centres with 90,000 square feet for the noble cause of treating people infected with the deadly virus which has seriously affected Bangladesh like other parts of the world.

Initially, the hospital has accommodated 2,084 beds. The number of the beds may increase to 5,000, depending on the number of corona patients.

It is learnt that the ICCB will have 71 intensive care units. The government will provide medicine, doctors, nurses and supporting staff to facilitate the treatment.

Medical cleansing plant is being imported from Turkey while the hospital will get oxygen plant from the US Medical ventilators will be supplied from the central medicine reserve of the government.

Bashundhara Group, a leading business conglomerate of Bangladesh, will also provide supply of utilities (gas, water and power) for the hospital.

The initiative of Bashundhara Group to convert its trade centre and convention centres into a hospital has already been acclaimed at home and abroad.

Diplomats of different foreign missions and UN agencies in Dhaka have highly appreciated the Bashundhara Group’s initiative.

They said the country’s largest hospital will contribute greatly to the treatment of coronavirus patients.

United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based newspaper Khaleej Times has lauded the noble initiative of Bashundhara Group.

SOURCE : Daily Sun