Photo: Messenger
Standard Chartered Bangladesh and the Bidyanondo Foundation are working together to provide healthcare support and essential medical services to 241,600 beneficiaries belonging to isolated char, riverbank-based communities and other hard to reach areas across the country.
The Jibon Kheya – a floating hospital – will travel through the rivers of Bangladesh, service patients, and host health camps in Khulna & Barishal- the costal divisions, and Rajshahi, Rangpur - Northern divisions and Chattogram. Doctors, nurses, medical officers, pharmacists, and other healthcare personnel will be aboard the vessel. In the first phase, the Jibon Kheya travelled across the nation’s waters for 40 days and made 29 stops providing health care services to more than 14,000 beneficiaries in Khulna, Bagerhat, Barishal, Patuakhali, Bhola, Lakshmipur, Noakhali, and other hard-to-reach areas.
As part of this new phase, patients from remote areas seeking medical services will be able to visit land-based outreach health camps for general medicine, eye care, gynaecological care and selected pathological tests. Each health camp will provide individuals with access to basic health check-ups, medical prescriptions, specialist consultations. Beneficiaries will also receive support in the form of week-long supply of basic medication and nutritious food items. Patients who undergo treatment at the health camps or aboard the Jibon Kheya will also receive post-treatment support via call centre services and for the emergency support, ambulance support will be available during camp period. The Jibon Kheya will travel across the nation’s waters and road for 96 days and make 96 stops annually for three years along its voyage to organise health camps across four major seasons of the country.
Naser Ezaz Bijoy, Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Bangladesh, said, “In the remote river islands or chars of our country, where the daily struggle for food, clothing, and shelter is constant, access to healthcare services is often inadequate. Moreover, the healthcare facilities in these regions often face challenges such as insufficient medication, medical equipment, and irregular visits by medical personnel. Through this partnership with Bidyanondo Foundation, we are taking quality healthcare to the doorstep of these communities. After the tremendous response and significant impact achieved by phase one of Jibonkheya, we are delighted to expand our programme. We are thankful to Bidyanondo for being a part of this journey.”
Kishor Kumar Das, Chairman, Bidyanondo Foundation, said, "The average life expectancy is much lower in the isolated char/river islands and remote mountainous areas due to lack of medical services, where almost every household faces high risk of life threatening diseases.
This mobile medical service initiative, sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank, will benefit millions of such families. We hope that public awareness will increase along with disease prevention in these areas.”
As the nation’s long-term partner in progress, Standard Chartered has consistently been linked to Bangladesh’s inspiring story of growth and resilience. For more than 118 years, the Bank has remained dedicated to driving commerce and development by investing in communities; expanding the reach and scale of services and initiatives to promote greater inclusion; and creating new opportunities for stakeholders.
Bidyanondo Foundation is a non-profit organisation registered under the Bangladesh Department of Social Services. The Bidyanondo Foundation works to help poor communities across Bangladesh and performs a variety of essential social welfare activities.
Messenger/Tushar
