More foreign eye doctors to come for treatment of July-movement injured

Many international ophthalmology teams will travel to Bangladesh to treat individuals who suffered eye injuries during the July movement.

Professor Nazmul Hossain, the Director General of DGHS, made this statement at a roundtable discussion in the city entitled “A call to action: Addressing the Crisis of Injuries during the July Movement,” which was conducted in collaboration with Orbis International and Sajida Foundation.

He claimed that additional foreign physicians will arrive in the next few days. A Chinese medical team has already arrived in Bangladesh and is working in various hospitals for seven days.

The Chinese team, however, appreciated the skills of local physicians for the initial management of the patients, DG said.

Dr Nazmul Hossain said, the ministry of health and family welfare has asked DGHS to provide all medical support to patients through the national ophthalmological institute, medical college hospitals and district hospitals.

He said, DGHS will work with the relevant ministries to ensure the import of corneas for those who need quick transplantation.

Besides, the ministry of health and family welfare will take responsibility for the medical rehabilitation of the injured persons, he added.

Prof. Nazmul stressed the necessity of support from different organizations like Sajeda Foundation and Orbis.

DGHS, National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital (NIOH), Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Dhaka, Ispahani Islamia Eye Hospital, Ophthalmological Society of Bangladesh, various international NGOs working in eye sector, July Shaheed Smriti Foundation and representatives of Bangladesh Medicine Industry Association and student coordinators of July movement were present.

Mir Mahbubur Rahman Snigdh, general secretary of July Shaheed Smriti Foundation, said, all treatment and costs of medicines as well as rehabilitation procedure of the injured will be done through the Ministry of Health.

Eye Research Institute of the United States According to Professor Dr. Abdul Quader, the institute’s IPD has treated about 736 patients, and 504 emergency procedures have been performed. He indicated that about 40 of them require corneal transplants.

According to Brigadier General Professor Dr. Zulfikar Hasan, head of the ophthalmology department at CMH-Dhaka, wounded patients and their families require accurate, practical counseling delivered with genuine compassion.

All injured parties of the July movement will receive a 50% surgical cost discount from Bangladesh Eye Hospital’s Dr. Niaz Abdur Rahman and Professor Shafi Khan, with private donors covering the remaining balance.