Health Minister Zahid Maleque once again reminded all to wear masks to avail health services and has announced actions against those failing to don masks outside.

Maleque made the statement at a press briefing after inaugurating the 200-bed Maternal and Child Health Institute (MCHTI) in Mirpur on Sunday afternoon, on the occasion of the celebration of the three-day Family Welfare Services and Promotion Week 2020.

Mentioning that the scope of Covid-19 testing facilities have increased in the country, he urged all suspecting patients to visit the hospital for examination and seek health services.

The minister said that antigen tests have started in 10 districts, following the demand from the masses. The districts that did not have any facility whatsoever got the priority. The facilities would be expanded in all districts in phases.

According to the press release issued by Covid-19 integrated control room under the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), at present a total of 137 testing machines including 112 rt-PCR machine, 15 GeneXpert machine and 10 rapid antigen test machines are being used for testing.

Zahid Maleque said: “You [Covid-10 suspects] come forward. Get tested, get treatment, get services, and you will be fine.”

Expressing his satisfaction over the Covid-19 management he said that all have said that Bangladesh is in a much better position in controlling Covid-19.

He praised the activities by the Directorate General of Family Planning as they have run all the community clinics (around 14,000) despite there being a devastating situation.

The minister expressed his satisfaction over the increase of the short term contraception method and said that people need to increase adopting medium and long term contraception methods.

MCHTI Director Dr Shamshul Karim, DGHS Additional DG Nasima Sultana, Health Education and Family Planning Department Secretary Ali Noor, and Dhaka 14 MP Aslamul Haque were present at the program, among others.