Dhaka: A five-day international training programme on “Chemical Incident Preparedness for Hospitals (HOSPREP)” commenced today in the capital. The training, organized by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the Bangladesh National Authority for Chemical Weapons Convention (BNACWC), aims to enhance hospital readiness in handling chemical incidents.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the inaugural session took place at Golden Tulip, the Grandmark Dhaka, as highlighted in an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release. Major General Quazi Md Rashid-Un-Nabi, Director General of the Directorate General of Medical Service (DGMS), Dhaka Cantonment, attended the event as the chief guest.
The opening ceremony saw the participation of 18 attendees from 10 different countries, including Bangladesh, along with six instructors from OPCW and Bangladesh. Senior dignitaries from the armed forces were also present. The training’s primary objective is to foster a comprehensive capacity-building initiative across hospitals for managing chemical casualties effectively.
The programme covers essential areas such as hospital emergency planning, procedures for chemical victim decontamination, and clinical management, alongside preventing secondary contamination of medical personnel. The training is conducted by subject matter experts from both local and international backgrounds, including instructors from OPCW and specialist physicians from various medical institutions in Bangladesh.