The goal of an emergency response procedure is to mitigate the impact of the event on people and the environment. SDRS has been responding in every emergency situation since its inception.

COVID-19 Response Activities:

The first Corona positive case was identified in Bangladesh on 08 March, 2020. The positive case was a young man who was a returnee from Italy. Similarly Gaibandha district was identified their first corona positive case from a family of USA returnee on 22 March, 2020. The returnees were attended in two weeding in Sadullahpur and Sundarganj in between March 11-15. After having the news of these the IEDCR soon after send their delegate to collect the samples for testing.

a) Emergency Disaster Management Committee Meeting:

SDRS called an emergency meeting on 22 March 2020 for Corona response activities. We have prepared a response plan like situation analysis, awareness activities, area and beneficiaries selection, Hand washing spot selection and setup, ready food distribution, food package distribution, cash distribution, Mask distribution, hand gloves distribution, handover of ambulance and Laborer sending plan to the south-east of Bangladesh (Chalanbil, Natore/Pabna).

b) Public Awareness:

The most important preventive activity against Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) is to maintain personal hygiene. During the corona (COVID-19) situation SDRS has set up a hand wash center at Gaibandha Police Station, Deputy Commissioner’s Office, Poura Park and different important places for all people and encourage people to wash their hands frequently. Moreover SDRS distributed more than 4000 mask and soap to the poor people at 16 spots in Gaibandha Pourashava, so that they could maintain their personal hygiene.

c) SDRS Staff Contribution:

Though the Gaibandha district is under locked down since 10th of April, the food crises are increasing to the vulnerable families by day. The pandemic situation affects their income generating activities directly. In this situation the staff of SDRS contributed their one day salary, which is near about BDT 200,000 for relief program to the vulnerable people.

d) Ambulance Support:

SDRS provided an Ambulance to the health care facility of Gaibandha. The ambulance was commissioned by the Civil Surgeon of Gaibandha, Dr. Md. Abu Hanif. The Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mr. Abdul Matin, the Mayor of Gaibandha Pourashava, the Executive Director of SDRS Mr. Golam Mostofa, government officials, doctors and staff of SDRS were present there. An increase in the ambulance service will allow the people to access the health facility effectively.

e) Donation to the Prime Minister Relief Fund:

To this Corona situation, SDRS contributed BDT. 1,00,000,00 to the Prime Minister Relief fund by the Partner Organization Forum (PO) of Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL).

f) Food Distribution (Ready Food):

Gaibandha district was under lockdown for this pandemic situation. The day labourers are jobless and they have no income generation sources as a result the daily labor and their families are in food crisis since the locked down has been imposed. SDRS has taken an initiative to provide ready food (packet lunch) for a month to about 10,000 households from SDRS Chicken Palli.