Hospitals asked to prepare for treating possible chemical attack victims

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on Sunday asked the country's specialised hospitals, medical colleges and sadar hospitals for taking necessary steps to ensure the proper treatment of the victims of any possible chemical attack by militants.

The DGHS sent a letter in this regard to the directors concerned of the specialist hospitals and medical colleges and civil surgeons/deputy directors of all sadar hospitals on August 26, its Director (Hospital) Dr Kazi Jahangir Hossain said on Sunday.

"The initiative was taken based on information provided by the Public Security Division of the Home Ministry," he said.

The Home Ministry first sent the information to the Health Ministry on May 3 this year and then forwarded it to the DGHS on June 4, Dr Hossain added, reports UNB.

The notice also directed each of the hospitals to form a special medical team to provide necessary treatment to the victims of chemical attacks as well as arrange special trainings for all the team members, and keep medical instruments and medicines in stock to deal with any emergency situation.

The DGHS also asked them to keep ambulances standby and arrange alternative electricity supply (Generator) at every operation theatre (OT).

It also urged all the government hospitals to ensure the capacity of treating chemical attack victims and be ready for it.

A chemical attack is the use of toxic chemical agents as a weapon of mass destruction. Victims of a chemical exposure or attack require immediate decontamination.