The government is set to sign a US$30-million-loan agreement with Saudi Arabia tomorrow for part funding of burn-and-plastic surgery units in five more government medical colleges.
A six-member Saudi delegation led by Director-General of the Saudi Fund for Development Ahmed Mohamed Alghanam is now in Dhaka for signing the deal on funding this healthcare facility to expand the critical treatments for burn patients across the country.
According to the health-sector estimates, more than 650,000 people suffer burn-related injuries every year in Bangladesh and over 6,000 of them die on the spot.
But the treatment facilities for such injuries are still restricted mostly to the big medical establishments within the metropolises.
In this context, the Directorate General of Health Services earlier came up with the concept of a four-year scheme called 'Establishment of Burn and Plastic Surgery Units Project'.
Starting from January of next year, the project is expected to be completed by December 2021. Government medical college hospitals in Rajshahi, Barisal, Sylhet, Rangpur and Faridpur will come under this scheme, officials concerned informed.
The total cost of the project is expected to be US$ 64 million, out of which Saudi Government will provide a total of 112.50 million Saudi Riyals equivalent to 30 million US dollars.
The additional US$34 million will come from Bangladesh government's own coffers.
"The rate of interest for this Saudi loan will be 2.0 per cent. The total repayment period for the loan is 25 years inclusive of a rebate (grace) period of five years," Additional Secretary of the Economic Relations Division Mohammad Shamsul Alam told the FE.
"In Bangladesh, until now, it is very difficult to get good-quality medical treatment for burn injuries in the suburban areas," said Dr. Ferdousi Haque, Director of the DGHS.
"However, as a result of this scheme, patients with burn injuries will be able to get quick and proper treatment at an affordable cost from the medical establishments coming under the scheme," she observed.
"In addition, adequate facilities will be there to carry out reconstructive surgeries on burn patients, which will help rehabilitate them and return to normal life," she added.
Apart from signing the loan agreement, the visiting Saudi delegation will also attend a meeting of the Board of Directors of Saudi-Bangladesh Industrial and Agricultural Investment Company (SABINCO) scheduled for today (Saturday).
Mr Alghanam, who heads the Saudi Export Program of SFD in Riyadh, is also the Chairman of SABINCO.
Since 1975, Saudi Fund for Development has been involved in the financing of 16 development projects in Bangladesh, 10 of which have already been completed.
Among the ongoing projects which are partly or fully funded by SFD include the construction of Maghbazar-Mouchak Flyover in the capital, Dhaka, and the Shikalbaha dual-fuel power plant in Chittagong.
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