WHO together with IOM and other health partners supports the Government to scale up screening capacities at Dhaka Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA), the main air international gateway of the country, with over 25,000 passengers arriving every week.
Every passenger arriving or departing the country is being thermo-scanned for detection of fever and has to provide a COVID-19 negative test obtained within previous the 72 hours from the flight. This requires additional manpower, personal protective equipment, and increased data management capacity, which WHO contributed to.
Dr. Aulakh handing to Dr. Mohammad Khurshid, DG DGHS, list of supplies provided by WHO to Airport Authorities. WHO Bangladesh/ C. Bercaru
“WHO has been working with public authorities from the beginning of the pandemic to increase screening at entry points, creating a safe environment for international travelers and for their country of destination”, said Dr. Bhupinder Aulakh, Deputy WHO Representative to Bangladesh in a meeting with airport and health authorities at HSIA.
In addition to screening capacities, WHO supported the set-up of isolation and treatment facilities within the airport’s premises that allow adequate triage and case management on the spot and then referral to institutional quarantine, if people show COVID-19 related symptoms. Over 40,000 people have been identified with COVID-19 symptoms since the beginning of the pandemic, over 1000 only in the past week, and have been referred to institutional quarantine for testing and isolation.
The health surveillance at points of entry also further aids contact tracing of the COVID-19 confirmed travelers, both in the country of origin and the country of destination, and provides background for informed decision-making to break the disease transmission chain.
The preparedness of Points of Entry has been regularly tested in the past to assess preparedness in addressing international epidemics. In 2019 WHO conducted an exercise with airport authorities in the context of the new Ebola outbreak from Africa and the lessons learned have been instrumental in having a robust response when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world and the country.
Health Screening desks at HSIA. WHO Bangladesh/ C. Bercaru
“WHO constantly supports Government to ensure compliance with International Health Regulations (IHR) that provide countries rights and obligations in handling public health events and emergencies”, says Mr. Ahmed Hasan Mohiuddin, WHO National Professional Officer for Surveillance & Public Health Informatics.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, nearly 800,000 people have been screened at airports, mainly at HSIA. 1.3 million people have been screened in total at international land, water, or air points of entry.
The support provided for strengthening surveillance at points of entry is part of the overall assistance provided by WHO to the Government for strengthening the country’s health capacity to prepare and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the start of the outbreak, WHO provided to Government medical equipment and supplies worth over USD 6 million and additional shipments are in the pipeline.
WHO remains committed to supporting the Government in scaling up the capacity to test, detect and treat COVID-19 patients while also implementing communication and community engagement activities to raise awareness and compliance among the population regarding protective measures against the virus.