WHO recently provided support to the Ministry of Health to strengthen the capacity of doctors and nurses on the clinical management and prevention of Dengue, Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever and Chikungunya. This initiative also aimed to develop experts who will be able to report and improve surveillance.
A total of eight training sessions were held; seven at the divisional level and one at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital. The divisional level trainings had 32 participants (16 doctors and 16 nurses)who discussed the epidemiology, clinical manifestation, pathogenesis, diagnosis, investigation , clinical management and prevention of Dengue, Zika & Chikungunya viruses. The lectures were also delivered using power point presentations, case examinations and practical demonstration.
At Dhaka Medical College Hospital, a training of trainers was held for 14 doctors and 14 nurses from 7 divisions who later carried out cascade trainings in their own divisions for 112 doctors & 112 nurses at district & upazilla-level hospitals. Trainees are now equipped to treat and manage Dengue & Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever cases. The training also serves to form a core group of experts in government hospitals who will arrange first-time and refresher training for newly posted and recruited doctors and nurses involved in management of dengue in hospitals.