The Good HEAL Trust and the Diabetic Association of Bangladesh on Tuesday jointly launched a clinic at Korail slum in the capital to generate health and
diseases-related awareness among the people.
Virtual Knitwear, a leading garment manufacturer, financed the clinic while InGen Technology Ltd, solar panel manufacturing firm and a player in the solar PV power industry in Bangladesh, provided the clinic with a solar panel.
The initiators hope the 300,000 people of the slum would receive comprehensive healthcare service, health education and health awareness for prevention of diseases under the initiative.
At the inauguration, Good HEAL Trust chairman Asif Mahmood said, ‘We cannot ignore the fact that we are dependent on the people who live in this slum.’
‘We have to ensure that they also have access to healthcare services and can think of a better life beyond this slum,’ said Mahmood, also chairman of InGen and internet service provider ADN Telecom.
Virtual Knitwear Chairman Rezaul Haque said he was happy he could make a contribution to setting up of the clinic and hoped that other garment factory owners in the vicinity would come forward to help the clinic for its smooth running.
‘I have a garment factory near Gulshan-2 circle. Many of my workers live in Korail slum. They will also receive healthcare services here,’ he said.
Dr Mobin Talukdar, director of the Gulshan Health Service Clinic of the Bangladesh Institute of Health Science, an associate body of the Diabetic Association of Bangladesh, explained at length how the health services would be offered to the slum people.
Diabetic Association of Bangladesh President Professor AK Azad Khan advised all to give more emphasis on the preventive healthcare to bring down healthcare cost.
He said the pilot programme aimed to make the clinic self-sustaining within two years.
It also aimed to provide services at low costs through innovative micro-health insurance, so that this model could be replicated in other parts of Bangladesh where people were deprived of basic healthcare services.
Lauding the initiative, former health and family welfare secretary Muhammad Ali said this initiative would help inform the disadvantaged lot about the healthcare and health education for prevention of diseases.
At the beginning of the programme, Good HEAL Trust executive director Tanvir Raquib expressed gratitude to everyone involved with the programme for setting up the clinic.
He requested the companies in Gulshan, Banani and Mohakhali to engage with the NGOs working in the Korail slum area.
The Diabetic Association of Bangladesh has launched another programme named ‘Home Healthcare Service’ in collaboration with the Good HEAL Trust.
Under this programme, trained health workers will provide healthcare to the ailing and the elders at their doorsteps. They will also help them with their prescribed treatment.
-With New Age input
http://newagebd.com/detail.php?date=2013-04-11&nid=45805#.UWY3-jcnncs
