SMC’s response to COVID-19 crisis in Bangladesh
1. In the midst of COVID-19 pandemic, SMC has intensified its efforts to attain the country’s health, population and nutrition goals through offering its products and services. In order to continue its uninterrupted services, SMC provided 16,400 sets of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and 160,000 masks to its health network providers (8,200 private sector non-graduate medical practitioners under its Blue Star network, 4,500 drug sellers under its Green Star network, 650 obstetricians and gynecologists under its Pink Star network and 2,500 women as rural entrepreneurs under its Gold Star network) who are relentlessly working across the country to address the pandemic. SMC also provided essential PPE, masks and other safety materials to the frontline sales and field operation forces who are continuously providing technical support and securing the supply lines to cater to the increased market demand for products and services due to the pandemic. The measures taken have reinforced their morale and led to an increased sale of condom, oral contraceptive pill, injectables and implant by 53%, 17%, 13%, and 16% respectively during April-June, 2020 as compared to the previous quarter.
2. SMC is continuously developing awareness messages following GoB and WHO guidelines and disseminating through the digital media platform to educate the followers of our Facebook Pages to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the community since the outbreak of the pandemic. With a view to build awareness, SMC is enriching its different Facebook Pages (SMC, Blue Star, Pink Star, MoniMix and Smile Baby Diaper) with key COVID-19 messages focusing on personal protective measures, social distancing, precautions against community gathering, pregnancy care, stress management, immunity, nutrition, nationwide COVID-19 test centers and dedicated hospitals to treat COVID-19, and answering the random queries received from numerous Page followers.
3. SMC educated its Gold Star Members (GSMs) to make them aware about their personal safety while working at households so that they can provide quality information and services to their localities by maintaining adequate personal protection against COVID-19. SMC also provided a package of essential food items on humanitarian ground to its 2,500 GSMs working in 77 Upazilas across the country who are mostly suffering from financial hardship due to this pandemic.
4. SMC initiated “Tele-Health Consultation Services” to support the providers of its health service networks on COVID-19 counseling. Four physicians have been engaged for on-call medical consultation to boost up providers’ confidence to ensure quality services in their respective communities.
5. ‘SMC Tele-Jiggasha,’ the telephone hotline service of SMC, is regularly disseminating COVID-19 related messages to the callers nationwide including its network providers following the guidelines of the Health Directorate of the Government of Bangladesh.
6. SMC also collaborated with the Digital Healthcare Solutions of Telenor Health to ensure free insurance scheme for all its field staff members.
7. SMC’s Pharma Division educated the frontline fighters about COVID-19, seasonal fever and dengue. They promoted online health awareness messages to educate the graduate doctors along with the distribution of Bengali brochure ‘CORONABARTA’ and ‘Dengue Shamachar’ among its Blue Star Providers. They also provided PPE to their Medical Information Officers (MIOs) to support their health safety.
8. SMC partnered with Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) by providing Hand Sanitizer, SMC Purified Drinking Water, Face Shield and Surgical Mask to the doctors and health workers who are combating the pandemic. SMC EL donated ORSaline-N, Taste Me Instant Soft Drink Powder and SMC Purified Drinking Water to Bidyanando Foundation, a nonprofit social welfare organization providing food support to under privileged children and communities who are directly affected by the outbreak of the pandemic.
9. As a part of its social commitment to help people live better, SMC EL introduced ‘GERM KILL’ at the height of the pandemic. The product is an instant antibacterial and antiviral hand sanitizing solution which follows WHO recommended 70% IPA formula to meet the additional demand for quality antibacterial soap and hand sanitizer during this catastrophic situation.
10. With a mission to disinfect the mass people, SMC EL installed ‘Disinfection Tunnels’ at five strategic locations in the capital. So far, it has served around 234,000 people in five locations: Mohakhali Kitchen Market, Kolmilata Bazar, Uttara Kushal Centre Kitchen Market, Mohammadpur Town Hall Market and Khilgaon Taltola Kitchen Market. With no harmful chemical use, these tunnels automatically disinfect not only Coronavirus germs but also other germs.
We regret to inform you that six of our frontline soldiers under SMC’s Pink Star and Blue Star Network have laid down their lives during April-June, 2020. They were identified as COVID-19 positive cases or had symptoms of COVID-19. We recognize their great contribution to improving the health status of the country. We pray for their departed souls and our condolence to their families and also pray for early recovery of the providers who are now suffering from COVID-19.
