Treatment for rural people through telemedicine

Everything has come to a halt due to the countrywide shutdown to flatten the spread of highly contagious Covid-19. During the trying time, many doctors cannot treat those suffering from common diseases in person due to coronavirus fears. In this situation, some youths and members of Kulaura Association of Medical Students on March 30 launched a free telemedicine service to serve those patients. It is now getting popular among local people.

Seven physicians of the association have been rendering treatment to those suffering from common seasonal diseases like cold, cough and fever every seven hours in three shifts in 24 hours through telemedicine, said Dr Md Al-Rafi Ali Shah, general secretary of the association.

The physicians are Dr Kisholoy Chowdhury, Dr Mustafizur Rahman, Dr Mehedi Hasan Anik, Dr Moshtak Hossain Tanim, Dr Tafhimul Islam Chowdhury, Dr Md Al-Rafi Ali Shah and Dr ATM Redwanul Islam.

The service will continue until the change of ongoing pandemic. They are receiving 25 to 40 phone calls from people of different ages daily. The number of phone calls is now increasing.

Sohana Begum, a resident of Amuli village in Kulaura upazila, said her five-year old daughter was suffering from coughs and fever, but could not visit the doctor due to the ongoing countrywide shutdown.

Sohana added at the time, she learnt about the telemedicine service from a relative. Later, they got treatment by communicating with the assigned doctor using the mobile phone.

Wishing anonymity, an expatriate who came here from Dubai two months ago said "I had been suffering from cough. Later, I came to know details about the disease coronavirus through telemedicine."

Dr Md Al-Rafi Ali Shah said they give advice to those patients suffering from common diseases and if necessary they prescribe treatment over phone.

But if they find any patient with coronavirus-like symptoms, they suggest those to visit the hospital in Sylhet, said the doctor.  

There are 28 members of this organisation, he said, adding that most of them have recently completed their MBBS degree.

Anyone can call at +8801300630698 for getting the telemedicine service, he said.

Kulaura Upazila Nirbahi Officer ATM Farhad Chowdhury said it is really a great initiative by the association in the crisis time.