A web-based advanced Covid-19 clinical management course has been launched for Bangladeshi doctors considering the Covid-19 situation. 

Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Monday night launched the course, developed by Brown University, USA, based on their internationally renowned course curricula.

The course is aligned with Bangladesh’s national case management and critical care guidelines, and was reviewed and endorsed by a working group of national experts under the leadership of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). 

Read:Pfizer, Sinopharm shots to start June 19: Health Minister

This free self-learning, pre-recorded course with videos and interactive modules is meant for doctors in Bangladesh who are involved in Covid-19 clinical case management. 

It is developed with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the US government’s leading development agency.

Zahid Maleque thanked everyone involved in the development of this online course. 

“In recent days, we’re witnessing an escalation of Covid-19 cases. To address this, and as part of our preparedness, this collaborative training course will help all government and private physicians working at the sub-district, district, and tertiary level hospitals to have the best evidence-based clinical knowledge on Covid-19 in Bangladesh," he said.

In line with the updated ninth version of the National Guideline of Covid-19 management, this course has been customised to serve local patients by local doctors, which is a very timely initiative, said the minister.

During the Covid-19 pandemic situation, online-based learning services have proved to be an effective alternative solution to in-person training, said a media release. 

Read:Registered people will get Pfizer vaccine first, says health minister

The flexibility of such online-based courses is suitable for the doctors who are overwhelmed with their duty hours but also need to be updated to tackle this pandemic as it diverges. 

From the Communicable Disease Control (CDC) of DGHS, more than 20,000 doctors and nurses have already been trained on COVID-19 case management. 

As part of its continuous support to government of Bangladesh in its Covid-19 response, USAID, through its ‘MaMoni Maternal and Newborn Care Strengthening Project (MNCSP): Emergency Response to Covid-19 Pandemic’ implemented by Save the Children and its partners, has been supporting multiple capacity building initiatives to enhance the knowledge and clinical skills of Bangladeshi doctors and other frontline workers. 

This online course is yet another effort to facilitate continuous capacity building support to doctors on management of Covid-19 patients. 

This project also supports the DGHS in implementing rural community-based interventions to help contain virus transmission in the community. 

Dr. Meerjady Sabrina Flora, Additional Director General (Planning and Development), DGHS; Prof. Dr. Mohammad Shahidullah, Chairman, COVID-19 National Advisory Committee and President, Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC); Professor Dr. Nasima Sultana, Additional Director General (Administration), DGHS; Xerses Sidhwa, Director of Office of Population, Health, Nutrition, and Education (OPHNE) of USAID Bangladesh; and Onno Van Manen, Country Director of Save the Children in Bangladesh were present. 

Read: Finance Minister writes a big cheque for health sector

Prof. Dr. Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam, Director, DGHS presided over the event. 

Dr. Ruhul Abid, Associate Professor, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University; Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Studies, Watson Institute; Executive Faculty Member, Brown Global Health Initiative made a brief demonstration on the course at the event, joined by over 150 attendees from all over the country.