Healthcare authorities overnight involved non-government sector to expand COVID-19 facilities nationwide to intensify combat against the virus, following a South Korea’s “kiosk” or “booth” model.
“The government is introducing booths or kiosks to collect samples for COVID-19 testing across the country involving initially an NGO,” Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Professor Dr Abul Kalam Azad told BSS.
He said non-government healthcare service JKG Healthcare was engaged to perform the task following the South Korean model initially setting up 44 such booths, eight in Dhaka, eight in Cox’s Bazar and rests in coronavirus-hit regions of the country including Narayanganj.
The health services chief said the sample collection booths would be set up in different key points in Dhaka, Narayanganj, Coxbazar and other regions to quicken the COVID-19 testing and detection process.
Azad said his office would oversee JKG services in collecting samples to be tested, however, in designated government-run laboratories and expected the model to help restrict peoples’ movement out of their respective neighbourhoods for testing purpose.
Officials at the directorate general of health services who are familiar with the development said the 44 booths would run as well some sub-booths to expedite sample collection from COVID-19 suspects.
They said the health workers engaged in the process were trained and instructed to strictly follow directives for their personal and others protection in performing the task.
According to the JKG, the medical technologist standing inside the cabin can use the gloves affixed on the booth to collect samples from people sitting outside the booth.
JKG said after collection of samples each time the gloves and the chair, on which the person whose samples were collected sat, would be disinfected.
“This method will keep the health professionals and also the hospitals safe as the booths will be installed in school or college premises,” a JKG official said.
