The world learned about the outbreak of an atypical pneumonia circulation in the Wuhan province of China in December last year. On January 1st, the World Health Organization (WHO) requested information on the reported cases from the Chinese authorities and activated its Incident Management Support Team (IMST).
Within the first week of the year, WHO ensured that the virus’ genome was mapped and one week later was sharing with the world how to develop a PCR test for COVID-19.
Another week later, WHO validated the production of quality PCR tests and by February many laboratories around the world were able to quickly track and trace the COVID-19 virus.
Among the hidden heroes of the many laboratories testing thousands of samples from COVID-19 suspected cases around the world, is 30-year-old Nandita Banik, an enthusiastic Medical Microbiologist that is helping test the host and refugee communities in Cox’s Bazar.
30-year-old Nandita Banik is a Medical Microbiologist responsible laboratory management, she and her team can perform 1500 COVID-19 tests per day - WHO/ Tatiana Almeida
“As the seventh most populated country in the world, with high population density and many living in poverty, Bangladesh is a high risk country for emerging infectious diseases. So I thought that if I could be a good microbiologist and apply new techniques to detect outbreaks early, I would be helping my people and my country”, explains Nandita.
Nandita is one the many young Bangladeshi employing their scientific and technical knowledge to stop the COVID-19 outbreak in Cox’s Bazar. A much needed work force considering the district’s vulnerable communities.
Since April, she is working at the Field Laboratory in the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) in the Cox’s Bazar Medical College. She is in charge of laboratory management and supervises the work of the technologists.
“Since WHO acquired the third PCR machine, the lab’s daily testing capacity increased up to 1500. This is great because testing is key to stop the spread of COVID-19”, she says.
Unlike frontline workers, Nandita is not in direct contact with COVID-19 patients but by performing tests to patient’s samples she too is very much at risk. And so is her family.
“In the first months I left my 4-year-old daughter in Dhaka with my husband. Only recently my parents came with her. Now I need to be extra careful and the first thing I do when I get home is to shower. I also have restricted the entrance of other people in my home, including cleaners”, explains Nandita.
According to WHO, health workers account for 10% of COVID-19 global infections. And even if young people are statistically less impacted by the symptoms, on this International Youth Day WHO is reminding young people that they too can get infected and transmit the virus to others.
WHO is also calling out for young people like Nandita - doing a heroic work in these challenging times - to be the heroes and drivers of change during the COVID-19 pandemic.