As Bangladesh faces a worsening dengue crisis, the World Health Organization (WHO) has stepped up support to help the country strengthen its clinical response. In a handover ceremony held Tuesday (8 July, 2025), WHO officially provided lifesaving medical equipment and supplies to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), reinforcing the government’s ability to manage severe dengue cases in high-burden areas.
To support these efforts, WHO has delivered 8 portable ultrasound machines, 21 bedside hematocrit (HCT) machines, and 1,000 bottles (500 ml each) of Dextran 40, a vital fluid for managing severe dengue. These supplies will be distributed to major hospitals in dengue high-burden areas across the country, improving diagnostic capacity and treatment outcomes.
“I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to WHO Bangladesh for their generous support to DGHS through the provision of 8 portable ultrasound machines, 21 bedside hematocrit machines, and 1,000 bottles (500 ml each) of Dextran 40. I believe these resources will significantly contribute to the effective management of dengue,” said Professor Dr. Md Abu Jafor, Director General, DGHS. Citing examples of success in reducing dengue death rates to near zero in some countries, the WR emphasized the need to establish a Center of Excellence (CoE) for dengue case management in one or two hospitals, with the aim of replicating the model nationwide. He reaffirmed that WHO’s support for these initiatives would continue.
