Actress Orchita Sporshia on her 30th birthday, today (December 8), officially announced that she will be donating her body to science after death.  Sporshia told she wishes to serve people by donating her organs. She had a final discussion with the authorities of Dhaka Medical College regarding this matter. Therefore, instead of burial after death, the college authorities will take her body for medical purposes. Regarding her organ donation, the Sporshia stated, "Within this donation lies the desire to benefit others and contribute to medical science. If another person can live because of my reason, then I have no regrets. If the sense of humanity is not present among artistes like us, then what will the common people learn? If as a result of my decision or announcement, ordinary people find inspiration in organ donation, that too is my success."

Actress Orchita Sporshia on her 30th birthday, today (December 8), officially announced that she will be donating her body to science after death.  Sporshia told she wishes to serve people by donating her organs. She had a final discussion with the authorities of Dhaka Medical College regarding this matter. Therefore, instead of burial after death, the college authorities will take her body for medical purposes. Regarding her organ donation, the Sporshia stated, "Within this donation lies the desire to benefit others and contribute to medical science. If another person can live because of my reason, then I have no regrets. If the sense of humanity is not present among artistes like us, then what will the common people learn? If as a result of my decision or announcement, ordinary people find inspiration in organ donation, that too is my success."

The US government donated another 1.5 million (15 lakh) pediatric doses of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccines to Bangladesh via COVAX to expand vaccination coverage to protect children ages 5-11 for the very first time. This delivery marks the second shipment of US donated vaccines for young children this week and brings the total number of all US vaccine donations to over 75 million (7.5 crore) doses, a press release of US embassy said today.   More than two-thirds of all international COVID-19 vaccine donations to Bangladesh have come from the United States and the American people, it added.   The United States continues to work closely with Bangladesh to support every facet of the national COVID-19 vaccination campaign.  This includes training to over 51,000 healthcare providers and other workers on safely administering vaccines to support Bangladesh's COVID-19 vaccination roll out across 64 districts. The United States has also donated 18 freezer vans, 750 freezer units, and 8,000 vaccine carriers and helped transport 57 million doses of vaccines to remote areas - for direct administration of 47 million vaccinations. In Bangladesh, the United States has contributed more than $140 million in COVID-19 related development and humanitarian assistance. Globally, the United States has donated $4 billion to support the COVAX effort, which includes support for ultra-cold chain storage, transportation, and safe handling of COVID-19 vaccines, making the United States the world's largest donor for equitable global COVID-19 vaccine access. AH

India has signed the second agreement with the United Nations' World Food Programme (WFP) under which it will donate another 10,000 metric tons of wheat to Afghanistan. "Government of India and the United Nations World Food Program signed the second 'In-kind Contribution Agreement between the Government of the Republic of India and WFP for the donation of next batch of 10,000 MTs of wheat to the People of Afghanistan," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. India intends to provide Afghanistan with a total of 50,000 tonnes of wheat.   "As of now, the first tranche of 10,000 MTs of wheat has been successfully delivered to Afghanistan and delivery of the next batch of 10,000 MTs of wheat is in the process," MEA added. Taliban seized power in Afghanistan last August that led caused economic disarray and food shortages that have pushed the country to the brink of a humanitarian crisis. Last week, V Muraleedharan, Minister of State for External Affairs said India has historical and civilizational ties with Afghanistan. India's development partnership with Afghanistan included projects spread across each of the 34 provinces of the country in critical areas such as power, water supply, road connectivity, health care, education, agriculture and capacity building. "In the last two years, India has contributed to the humanitarian requirements of the people of Afghan. This includes 75,000 MTs of wheat (2020), COVID related medical supplies (June 2020) and 500,000 doses of COVID vaccine (January 2021)," he added.   Source: ANI

The United States (US) has donated the highest numbers of COVID 19 vaccine doses to Bangladesh globally with over 61 million doses of US-made jabs.    Bangladesh came up as the number one US vaccine recipient country worldwide after receiving a fresh 10 million doses of Pfizer jabs under the COVAX  facilities, according to the US embassy in Dhaka.    "This latest donation from the American people makes Bangladesh the largest recipient of U.S.-donated COVID-19 vaccines among all countries worldwide, with more than 61 million (6.1 crores) doses delivered to date," said a US embassy press release today.   On the occasion, US Embassy Charg, d'Affaires Helen LaFave said the donation underscores the partnership between the two countries and the generosity of the American people in gifting more COVID-19 vaccines to Bangladesh than any other country in the globe.    More importantly, she said, it reflects the work of the Bangladesh government and all partners involved in the rapid scale-up of the vaccination campaign to get shots in arms safely and efficiently.     Besides, the US has also contributed over $131 million in COVID-related development and humanitarian assistance through various US Agencies to save  lives and treatment of individuals infected with the deadly virus.  Source: BSS AH

The ‘For Bangladesh Association, Germany’, which is known for its altruistic activities, has donated an ultrasound machine to Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnessa Mujib Memorial KPJ Specialized Hospital and Nursing College. The Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Trust, which has established the state-of-the-art facility in Gazipur at the outskirts of Dhaka, received the donation on behalf of the hospital. President of the For Bangladesh Association Hasnat Mia handed over the machine to Chief Executive Officer of the Bangabandhu Memorial Trust Mashura Hossain on Saturday morning at its Dhanmondi 32 office. The hospital management including CEO Mohd Taufik Bin Ismail and Dr Razeeb Hassan were also present. This ultrasound machine will be used “in the treatment of patients of all levels”, the hospital said in a statement. The ‘For Bangladesh’ is a private initiative of German doctors, engineers, and entrepreneurs who are in a position to help others through their education and wealth. President Hasnat Mia is also a Honorary Consul of Bangladesh in the State NRW, Germany. The Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnessa Mujib Hospital is being operated by KPJ Healthcare Berhad, a renowned Malaysian private healthcare organisation. The purpose of the hospital is to deliver exceptional treatment, care and diagnosis to all the patients. In 2017, the For Bangladesh Association was part of a free neuro and plastic surgery camp at the Bangamata hospital. Many poor and disadvantaged people received free treatment. The hospital authority expressed their wish to collaborate more in scientific, medical and humanitarian endeavour with the For Bangladesh Association. Source: Bangladesh Post

The United States (US) has purchased 18 trucks to help Bangladesh establish a dedicated fleet of specialized cold-chain vehicles to deliver COVID-19 vaccines across the country.        The US Embassy's Acting Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) William Dowers and US Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director Kathryn Stevens handed over brand new freezer trucks to Health and Family Welfare Zahid Maleque as part of ongoing US support to the COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Bangladesh.      With this support, total US government COVID-19 assistance to Bangladesh exceeds $121 million, a US embassy press release said on Monday.      The USAID purchased four trucks on the local market with an additional 14 vehicles to arrive in the coming months.      "The US is pleased to donate these new freezer trucks and continue our partnership with Bangladesh in overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic," said acting DCM Dowers.      The US government has donated 15 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines and contributed over $121 million to fight the pandemic through USAID, the US Department of Defense, the US Department of State, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.      This assistance has saved lives and treated individuals infected with COVID-19, supported the national vaccination campaign, strengthened testing capacity and monitoring, enhanced case management and infection prevention and control practices, and improved the supply chain and logistics management systems.      The US support also protects front line workers and increases the public's knowledge about COVID-19, including ways to protect themselves.      The United States has donated $4 billion to support the worldwide COVAX effort, which includes support for ultra-cold chain storage, transportation, and safe handling of COVID-19 vaccines, making the United States the world's largest donor for equitable global COVID-19 vaccine access. Source: BSS AH

India has recently donated a life support ambulance and stores of essential medical supplies to Kumudini Hospital of the country.   Indian High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami handed over a Life Support Ambulance and stores of essential medical supplies such as oxygen cylinders and respiratory support equipment to Rajiv Prasad Shaha, Managing Director of Kumudini Welfare Trust and Dr Pradip Kumar Roy, Director of Kumudini Hospital, a press release said today.    The Ambulance is a part of the overall programme for supply of 109 Life Support Ambulances, as announced by India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Bangladesh in March 2021, it added.   The ambulance and medical supplies will support an extension of the excellent work being undertaken by the Kumudini Hospital in serving the people in and around Mirzapur and Tangail, both through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond it as well.   Even after the pandemic, the life-support ambulance will bolster Kumudini Hospital's ongoing extension of quality medical care to the people of Bangladesh.   The gift represents India's unswerving and long-term commitment to its unique and special friendship with the Bangladeshi people, the release said. Source: BSS AH

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today donated Taka 10 crore to Dhaka Shishu (Children) Hospital, the largest children hospital in Bangladesh. The premier donated the money mainly for facilitating treatment without operation for the children having congenital heart diseases, said an official release of Press Wing at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). PMO Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah handed over a cheque for the amount to director of the hospital Professor Syed Shafi Ahmed at his office in the capital on Wednesday noon. Source: BSS AH

Jack Ma, Alibaba (BABA) founder and China's richest man, has donated 100 million yuan ($14.4 million) through his foundation to help find a vaccine for the Wuhan coronavirus. The billionaire has earmarked 40 million yuan ($5.8 million) for two Chinese government research organizations, according to a social media post from the Jack Ma Foundation. The remainder of the funds will be used to support "prevention and treatment" measures, the foundation said. The donation follows an announcement on Saturday by Alibaba that it is setting up a 1 billion yuan ($144 million) fund to buy medical supplies for Wuhan and Hubei province, the epicenter of the virus outbreak. The company is also offering free AI computing power to scientific research organizations to support the search for a vaccine or treatments. Alibaba is one of a host of Chinese technology companies donating funds to coronavirus treatment efforts, according to state-owned newspaper China Daily. Others include telecom equipment and smartphone maker Huawei, e-commerce company Tencent (TCEHY), search engine Baidu (BIDU), TikTok owner ByteDance and food delivery firm, Meituan-Dianping. Scientists in the United States and China are among those working on a vaccine. But it may be more than a year until a vaccine is available, according to Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the US National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The virus has killed at least 132 people, with nearly 6,000 cases confirmed in mainland China. More than 80 cases have been confirmed elsewhere, including in the United States and Australia. Source: CNN AH