PPE for healthcare staff fighting COVID-19 at DMCH

Tahmeed, Jahin, Aaraf, Farhan, Samiha and I are from Bangladeshi diaspora communities in the UK, Canada and Australia. This is an important cause for us, as we have many family members fighting the pandemic in Bangladesh. As you may know, it is a low-income country with high population density. With supply chains reacting to the pandemic, expatriates over the world are stepping up to give Bangladesh a fighting chance. Healthcare workers at all levels are fighting COVID-19 at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) in the nation's capital, Dhaka.

DMCH is recognized as one of the primary COVID-19 testing facilities in Bangladesh. The hospital is known for treating some of the highest number of patients in the country. The pandemic requires us to step up and stand by our communities and those fighting for it, especially in the most difficult of times. Our plan is to ensure that our front-line healthcare workers at DMCH have access to adequate equipment to help them continue their service. With more doctors being infected everyday, we need your help now more than ever. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, staff working in the hospital are in dire need of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). 

While hotel rooms are offered to doctors and physicians, lower level medical staff have to go back to their homes every night, risking not just their lives, but their families' well being as well. Due to the shock from the pandemic and the demand supply equation at health centres reacting to COVID-19, high grade PPEs are not reaching lower level healthcare staff, along with a shortage of PPE’s for doctors who are above the average height (5'7").

DMCH is one of the primary treatment centres for the coronavirus in the entire country. Every front-line worker we can help ensures a better chance for treatment of those affected by COVID-19. 

With the recent surge in confirmed cases and death tolls , there is an overwhelming need for equipment once again, but we want to start small. At $10 per set, we want to raise CA $3000  to arm 300 Healthcare Workers with 300 sets of PPE.

The money donated will go towards buying gloves, face masks, face shields, goggles, full-body suits for protecting workers who are treating COVID patients.  We will procure PPE in sets from a local source and deliver to Dr. AKM Zaman using ground contacts in Dhaka as soon as we start receiving the funds. Whether you are Bangladeshi or not, we hope you can spread this campaign to friends and acquaintances in your network and join our humble cause. 

Your Help: 
- Donate $20 to equip 1 healthcare worker with 1 set of PPE 
- Help us raise $3000 to donate 300 sets of PPE to 300 staff at DMCH 

For Bangladeshi Donors: 
- bKash +8801725399720   (To confirm your donation please email [email redacted] ) 
- Bank Transfer to Md. Zakir Ahmed at Account Number: 4404034243096, Shonali Bank Limited, BUET Branch, Dhaka, Bangladesh

This is a difficult time for all of us. If you have met Bangladeshis you’d know that we are a hard working, talented and jolly group of immigrants (and children of immigrants) who will always try to help you out when in need. Bangladesh needs your help now. Your donation can help arm front-line healthcare workers by giving them the tools they need to fight COVID-19.  

Additionally we are using #BacharLorai to join in with other expat initiatives from across the world. It helps synchronize our efforts and work towards a common goal. Feel free to join #BacharLorai, and use the hashtag on your social media posts. For more information, please visit www.bacharlorai.com. 

Thank you for your kindness and generosity. Let us come together to arm our healthcare workers with protective equipment, to give them a chance to see better days. 

#BacharLorai